New Parliament Building launch: CM Ashok Gehlot gives advice to PM Modi on inviting President

Rajasthan chief minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Thursday suggested PM Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to discuss with each other and decide on inviting President Droupadi Murmu for the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament building. 

“It's still not too late to rectify the mistakes that the Centre has made. The announcement of new Parliament building inauguration was not made with dignity,” Gehlot said as quoted by Hindustan Times. 

He further asked, “What was the emergency behind the inauguration?" “The announcement should have been made at least months ago so that all governors, CMs, and dignitaries would have been attended the inaugural ceremony,” the Congress leader added. 

A total of 20 opposition parties announced on Wednesday that they would boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building on 28 May, arguing that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to open the building instead of President Droupadi Murmu was an “assault on democracy".

The Union government dismissed the objections, and parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi said this was a historic occasion and not a time for politics.

“I would like to tell them that this is a historical event. This is not the time for politics... Boycotting and making issues out of a new issue is most unfortunate. I appeal to them to reconsider their decision and join this historical function...," Joshi added.

The new Parliament is aimed at providing a facelift and amenities not available at the iconic colonial-era building next door that served as India’s Parliament for 75 years after being opened in 1927.

A two-hour long program with multi-faith prayers and a guest list that includes all members of Parliament (MPs) and chief ministers is scheduled for the inauguration on Sunday at 12pm.