India's opposition to boycott new parliament inauguration by Modi
On Sunday, India's Premier Narendra Modi will inaugurate a new parliament building in capital New Delhi - a decision that has led to at least 19 opposition parties announcing their plans to boycott the event.
In a joint statement, the national and regional parties on Wednesday said India's President Droupadi Murmu should open the new parliament and have accused Modi of sidelining the country's first tribal head of state.
India's president is an indirectly elected, non-party executive with only ceremonial powers, but is considered the country's first citizen and is the highest constitutional authority.
'Prime Minister Modi's decision to inaugurate the new parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response,' the statement issued by the opposition parties said.
'When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration,' it added.
The Congress party's spokesperson, Supriya Shrinate, told media that Modi does not have 'the moral right to inaugurate the parliament as 'he is killing democracy every single day'.
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