Opposition shows unity ahead of session, boycotts Constitution Day

New Delhi, Nov 26 (UNI) In a display of Opposition unity, around 15 Opposition parties boycotted an event to celebrate the Constitution Day on Friday, days ahead of the Winter Session of Parliament.

Congress, Left parties, Trinamool Congress (AITC), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Samajwadi Party (SP), DMK and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) were among the main parties that boycotted the event.

Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge had talked to Opposition leaders on Thursday night about the boycott, sources said. Kharge, after a strategy meeting of the Congress on Thursday night had said they would talk to leaders of other Opposition parties for raising issues jointly in the Winter Session, as it was in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

In the Monsoon Session, a united Opposition had cornered government over issues like the Pegasus snooping controversy, price rise, farm laws and other issues. The session was washed out amid protests, even as the Lok Sabha passed 20 bills.

Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said the boycott was a protest against the “authoritarian” functioning of the BJP government, as laws are enacted bypassing parliamentary scrutiny and parliamentary democracy is insulted.

“Our protest is on the manner in which the government is conducting the state of affairs, enacting laws and making decisions. Remind the people of the country that it is insulting the spirit of our Constitution. The criticism of the Opposition by the PM and his colleagues is unwarranted,” Sharma said at a press conference at the party headquarters here.

Attacking the ruling BJP over its functioning, the Congress MP said, “Every single constitutional institution has been subverted or is under constant attack. Law making has become more ‘undemocratic’. The government has now framed up a dangerous trend to make laws through ordinance.”

“It’s important to remind the government that mere observance of this day when it functions and disrespects the Constitution of India is a very poor reflection. Constitution Day can be meaningfully celebrated, when it ensures inclusiveness and the participation of all public representatives. Mere formal invitation to be part of the audience is unacceptable.”

CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, in a veiled attack on BJP over the Constitution Day celebration, called it “hypocrisy”.

“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 & defeat these diabolic designs,” he said in a tweet.

BSP Chief Mayawati meanwhile said her party did not participate in the government functions on Constitution Day in protest against the government’s “anti-Constitutional” attitude.

“Today, on the occasion of Constitution Day, the Central and State Governments should go for a thorough review whether the Government is following the Indian Constitution with full honesty and integrity or not. But unfortunately it is well known that the central and state governments are not following the Constitutional norms at all” she said.

“Even today, the people of the exploited, deprived and poor sections continue to protest on the streets for their rights. No arrangement have been made to provide reservation for these categories in the private sector as the central and state governments are not ready for the matter of reservation in private sectors,” she added.

Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he felt hurt when Opposition leaders boycotted the function held in the Central Hall of Parliament.

“I am hurt that the Opposition boycotted an event in Parliament. It was not a political event,” the Speaker told the media in an interaction after the function.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also attacked the Opposition from the dais, and said the country would not accept those who question the need to celebrate Constitution day, which has the name of BR Ambedkar attached to it.