Opinion: On New Parliament, Government's Boycott Of Opposition

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his team boycotted the Opposition. Yes, you read that right. From the time it was conceived, to its execution over the last few years, leading up to the inauguration ceremony - the new parliament building has been an exercise in architectonic narcissism. Or, to put it more simply, 'The I-Me-Myself Project'.

There is no doubt from the time the project was conceived a few years ago, to its opening on the last Sunday of May 2023, that it was the entire Opposition that was boycotted by the union government. At no stage - ideation, budgeting, design, implementation and even the gawdy opening - was the Opposition asked to contribute. Nor did any elected Member of parliament (beyond a handful of Modi ultra-loyalists) have even a nanoscopic clue about what was going on from blueprint to building.

I have not entered the new parliament building. Nor did I watch the television coverage of the event. I saw many pictures on Twitter and Instagram though.  One image from the day disturbed me. Here it is. 

Where is the President of the Republic of India? Where is the Vice President of India, who is also the Chairman and Presiding Officer of Rajya Sabha? How many women do you spot in this picture? How many elected MPs from Lok Sabha? How many members from Rajya Sabha? Proud parliamentary democracy or blinkered theocracy?