In a significant turn of events, several opposition parties, spearheaded by the Congress, have decided to boycott the upcoming inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building scheduled for May 28. The opposition’s stance stems from their belief that the new building should be inaugurated by President Draupadi Murmu instead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has strongly criticized this move and warned the opposition parties of electoral repercussions in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking at a public gathering in Guwahati, Assam, on Thursday, Shah expressed his disappointment with the Congress party’s persistent refusal to acknowledge Prime Minister Modi’s authority even after nine years in power. He highlighted the Congress party’s tendency to obstruct parliamentary proceedings and boycott events where the Prime Minister is present. Shah stressed that such actions disrespect the people’s mandate, as Modi was democratically elected as the Prime Minister of India.
Shah emphasized that despite the opposition’s decision to boycott the inauguration ceremony, it would have no impact, as the blessings of the country’s masses are with Prime Minister Modi. He confidently predicted that in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress party and its allies would experience a decrease in their seat tally compared to the 2019 elections, while Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would secure over 300 seats, thereby leading Modi to become Prime Minister for the third time.
The Union Home Minister also took a swipe at the other opposition parties that supported the Congress in boycotting the event, warning them that they too would face a similar fate in the 2024 general elections. Shah cited examples from Jharkhand, Assam, Manipur, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, where opposition leaders inaugurated or laid foundation stones for new assembly buildings without inviting the respective state governors. He questioned the double standards of the Congress party by highlighting instances where their leaders had done the same but neglected to invite the governors.
During his visit to Assam, Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for the 9th campus of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) in Guwahati. Additionally, he distributed appointment letters to 44,703 newly recruited candidates from various Assam government departments.
The boycott of the inauguration ceremony by the opposition parties reflects the deepening political divide in the country. While the ruling BJP and its supporters argue that the Congress and its allies are disregarding the people’s mandate, the opposition contends that the event should be inclusive and reflective of the diversity of India’s democracy. As the political landscape evolves, all eyes will be on the upcoming 2024 general elections to gauge the electorate’s response to these developments and determine the course of the nation’s future leadership.
