Oppn parties making issue out of non-issue: Pralhad Joshi on boycott of parl building opening

After almost a century, a historic thing is happening, Joshi said.Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said then prime minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament Annexe building on October 24, 1975 and her successor Rajiv Gandhi had laid the foundation of the Parliament library on August 15, 1987.Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said at an industry event that a new Parliament building has been built by this government in a record time under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Wednesday urged the 19 Opposition parties that have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider decision.

The opposition parties contend that President Droupadi Murmu should do the honours as she was not only the Head of State, but also an integral part of Parliament as she summons, prorogues, and addresses it.

However, Joshi said prime ministers have in the past inaugurated buildings on Parliament premises and it is unfortunate that the opposition parties are making ''an issue out of a non-issue''.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the new Parliament building on Sunday.

''Boycotting and making an issue out of a non-issue is most unfortunate. I appeal to them to reconsider their decision and join the function,'' Joshi told reporters here on the sidelines of a national workshop on National e-Vidhan Application.

Home Minister Amit Shah said invitations for the inauguration ceremony were sent to all political parties, and they are free to act according to their wisdom.

''The Lok Sabha Speaker is the custodian of Parliament and the Speaker has invited the prime minister,'' Joshi said.

The minister said the inauguration of the new Parliament building was a historic moment and it is not good to ''politicise'' every event. ''After almost a century, a historic thing is happening,'' Joshi said.

Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said then prime minister Indira Gandhi had inaugurated the Parliament Annexe building on October 24, 1975 and her successor Rajiv Gandhi had laid the foundation of the Parliament library on August 15, 1987.

Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said at an industry event that a new Parliament building has been built by this government in a record time under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. ''... and even in the past governments, you have seen prime ministers who have either inaugurated or laid foundation stones before. At this point of time, if this is the pettiness with which parties will be thinking, I don't think that is the right way to go and they must reflect (on it),'' he said.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)