‘5 times when non-BJP governments…’: Himanta slams Opposition for boycotting new Parliament inauguration

The controversy over Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the new Parliament complex refuses to die down as the opposition has stepped up its attack on the Centre.

A war of words has now begun between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition leaders. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that five non-BJP governments have not invited the President or the governors of the states for the inauguration or the stone-laying ceremony of the new legislative assembly building.

"In the last 9 years - 5 non-BJP or opposition state governments have either laid foundation stones or inaugurated a new legislature building and not even in a single case was the Governor or President invited," Sarma tweeted.

2014: UPA Chief Ministers laid foundation stones of assembly building in Jharkhand and Assam. The governor was not invited.

2018: The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh laid the foundation for the new assembly. The governor was not invited.

2020: Sonia Gandhi laid foundation stone of Chhattisgarh Assembly. The governor was not invited.

2023: Telangana Assembly inaugurated by Chief Minister. The governor was not invited.

Earlier in the day, Sarma lashed out at the opposition, saying the boycott was obvious. "First, the opposition opposed the construction of the Parliament building and then never thought that the construction would be completed so soon," Sarma said.

The new parliament building will be inaugurated on May 28. So far, as many as 19 opposition parties have done so, including the Congress, the Left, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). it is clear that he will not attend the inauguration ceremony.