NDA, Opposition face-off over Constitution Day event

The NDA and Opposition faced off on the eve of the 75th anniversary of adoption of the Constitution with Congress-led INDIA allies demanding that leaders of Opposition in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha be included as speakers at the commemoration event in Parliament on Tuesday.

The NDA condemned what it termed as a “hasty and ill informed reaction by the Opposition”.

“This is not a political function. It is a solemn occasion which has no place for politics. Without knowing the actual arrangement, they (the Congress-led Opposition) started giving reactions. Even the Prime Minister will not be speaking tomorrow. The President, Vice-President and Lok Sabha Speaker will address. We have made arrangements for LoPs to be seated on the dais,” Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said countering the Opposition charges.

Earlier today, the Congress, NCP-SP, DMK, AAP and other INDIA bloc party leaders, in a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, said they had learnt about three speakers at the historic event in the Central Hall of Parliament on Tuesday — President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We believe that in the best traditions of Parliament democracy, the Leaders of Opposition in both Houses should also be given an opportunity to speak at this historic occasion,” the letter signed by 17 Opposition leaders said.

Rijiju later clarified the government’s position and said “ill-informed reactions by the Opposition on a very solemn occasion such as this is condemnable.” Asked if the Centre feared a boycott tomorrow, the minister said, “If anyone can even think of boycotting this event, you can imagine how sensitive they would be to the Constitution.”