Former Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan recently jokingly questioned the ongoing debate on who would inaugurate the new Parliament building, commenting that it is not written anywhere. While reacting to the comment of Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh about the supposed violation of article 79, Mahajan requested the political parties to keep the inauguration of such an important event, which symbolizes the temple of democracy, above partisan politics.
Rajya Sabha Member Digvijaya Singh had earlier expressed his views that not inaugurating Parliament by the President is a violation of Article 79 of India’s Constitution. After hearing his remark, Mahajan argued that if there were any violations of the article, then the Supreme Court would intervene. She further requested not to raise questions, since the Prime Minister, who is going to inaugurate Parliament, is also a Member of Parliament and its leader.
For the event, Mahajan has been called and will join other dignitaries in Delhi on Saturday evening. As per her, having a bigger agenda in place, the construction of a new Parliament building was necessary. She stressed the need to keep politics aside and celebrate such a significant event as one.
Supporting her views, several political parties including Trinamool Congress (TMC), Aam Aam Admi Party (AAP), and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) have decided to stay away from the inauguration.
On December 10, 2020 Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building. Built in a record time, and with the highest quality of construction, the Parliament building will be made available for the Nation on 28th May, 2021 when Narendra Modi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will dedicate it to the Nation.