Delhi Police are increasing security measures, particularly in the New Delhi District area, for the inauguration of the new Parliament building on May 28. To ensure safety, roads leading to the venue will be barricaded, and multiple security checkpoints will be set up.
In light of certain opposition parties boycotting the event and ongoing protests by wrestlers at Jantar Mantar, senior officials of the Delhi Police will hold a high-level meeting at the police headquarters to discuss security arrangements.
Tensions have escalated between the Centre and opposition parties just days before the opening ceremony of the new Parliament building. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the new complex on May 28, but political disagreements have emerged. Several opposition parties have pledged to boycott the event, arguing that either President Droupadi Murmu or Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla should perform the inauguration.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized the decision, stating that neglecting the President’s role in the ceremony is an insult to the country’s highest constitutional post. “Parliament is not made of bricks of ego, but of constitutional values,” he tweeted. Congress general secretary KC Venugopal announced that all opposition parties would unite to protest against the inauguration. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel responded to a comment by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, emphasizing that the President should inaugurate the new Parliament building.
A total of 19 opposition parties have joined forces, announcing that they will not attend the opening ceremony on May 28. They expressed their discontent, stating that the Parliament has lost its democratic essence, rendering the new building insignificant.
“While the inauguration of a new Parliament building is a significant event, we believe that the government is undermining democracy, and we disapprove of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built. Nevertheless, we were willing to set aside our differences and participate in this occasion,” the statement read.
The parties emphasized the importance of the President’s role in the Parliament and criticized the decision to proceed with the inauguration without her. They stated that this act is undignified, insulting the esteemed office of the President and disregarding the spirit of the Constitution. The statement also highlighted the government’s suppression of opposition voices, the weakening of parliamentary processes, and the passing of controversial legislation without proper debate.
As tensions rise, Delhi Police is taking stringent security measures to ensure a safe inauguration of the new Parliament building, while opposition parties express their concerns and boycott the event to protest against perceived threats to democracy and constitutional values.