When was the new parliament inaugurated?
On 28th May 2023, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Parliament building in New Delhi. The ceremony lasted for seven hours. PM Modi laid the foundation stone for this new Parliament building back in December 2020.
On this occasion, a 75-rupee coin and stamp were also released. Many ministers attended this event. However, some opposition parties did not attend it.
Why did these opposition parties decide to skip the inauguration event?
Many opposition parties skipped this event as they did not want PM Modi to inaugurate the new Parliament building. They said it should have been inaugurated by President Draupadi Murmu.
Opposition parties said that the President is the highest-ranking official in the country and an important member of Parliament. She also has the right to call and dissolve Parliament. She has the power to dissolve the Lok Sabha as well. So, according to the opposition parties, President Murmu should have inaugurated the new Parliament building.
The central government ignored the opposition parties' objections, claiming that the event was an important one. Everyone should have come out to support the inauguration, according to the central government.
How many parties attended the inauguration event?
Around 25 parties attended the inauguration event. 18 of the 25 were members of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). 7 of them were non-NDA members.
The participation of these 7 non-NDA parties was seen as a great relief by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Their attendance helped the BJP show that everyone should have attended this event. On the other hand, several opposition parties felt like their point of view was not being heard and therefore decided to skip such an important event.
Why should there be unity between the central government and the opposition parties?
Political parties working together can benefit the country as it becomes easier to develop policies. Their unity helps in the exchange of ideas when making important decisions. This positively affects the country's future.
A strong opposition ensures that the ruling party takes decisions that benefit the country’s citizens. Unity among them can help build a better future for the nation.
