14 opposition parties boycott Constitution Day event in Parliament

At least 14 Opposition parties on Friday boycotted the Constitutional Day event in the Central Hall of Parliament, protesting against the violation of fundamental rights and undermining of the Constitution.

Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, RJD, Samajwadi Party, Akali Dal, Shiv Sena, NCP, AAP, CPI(M), CPI, RSP, Muslim League and Kerala Congress were among the parties which kept away from the function attended by President Ram Nath Kovind, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This was a repeat of 2019 when the entire Opposition boycotted the function in protest against the way in which BJP's Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as Maharashtra Chief Minister in an early morning coup.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla expressed "pain" over the boycott, saying that staying away from such non-partisan events held by Parliament was not good for the health of democracy.

Congress said it did not participate in the Constitution Day event in the Central Hall of Parliament in protest and to remind the country that the Constitution is not being respected and is being undermined instead

CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury tweeted, "height of hypocrisy! Observing Constitution Day while severely undermining it's fundamental features. Opposition boycott as a mark of protest against the violation with impunity of fundamental rights guaranteed to all. Resist and defeat these diabolic designs."

Congress Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma told reporters, "our protest today is based on fundamental principles. We have protested to remind the country that the Constitution is not being respected, the Constitution is being undermined, parliamentary democracy is being undermined and insulted with the enactment of laws bypassing scrutiny which is creating enormous problems, because each law enacted by Parliament impacts the masses."

Referring to Modi's remarks that family-run parties are a danger to democracy as they go against the spirit of democracy, Sharma said the Prime Minister wants to change history itself and obliterate the memory of those who sacrificed for the freedom of the country.

"The BJP had no role in the freedom struggle which Mahatma Gandhi led. All leaders were Congressmen. The BJP is seeking out these leaders. They know their ancestors had no role in the freedom struggle. Rather, they were complicit with the British who crushed the freedom movement," he said.

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