Biju Janata Dal (BJD)’s decision to attend the inauguration of the new Parliament building has sparked a debate about whether the party is inching closer to the BJP.
The Congress said the BJD was hand-in-glove with the BJP. The President should inaugurate the new Parliament building on May 28 and not the Prime Minister, the Congress said.
The Congress said the BJD had supported Droupadi Murmu’s candidature as President saying that all should support her as she belonged to Odisha. Now the BJD leaders should refrain from attending the inaugural ceremony of the Parliament building to keep the dignity of the President.
However, the BJD maintained that it is lending issue-based support to the BJP. The BJD’s national spokesperson and Rajya Sabha member Sasmit Patra in a written statement said: “The President of India is the Head of the Indian State. The Parliament represents the 1.4 billion people of India. Both institutions are symbols of Indian democracy and draw their authority from the Constitution of India. Their authority and stature should always be safeguarded.”
Patra further said: “The BJD believes that these Constitutional institutions should be above any issue which may affect their sanctity and honour. Such issues can always be debated later in the august house. Hence, the BJD shall be a part of the momentous occasion.”
Launching a scathing attack on the BJD, senior Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra said: “During the President’s election, Naveen Babu seemed to show off that because of his effort a tribal girl was going to be elected as the President. He also called her his sister and addressed her as the daughter of Odisha. Now where is his love for his sister Droupadi? Where is his love for Odias?"
However, the BJD said no one should do politics on the issue. “Chief minister always avoids controversy. The BJD’s attending the inaugural ceremony is a welcome step,” said minister, planning and convergence, Rajendra Dholakia.
Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailed the BJD’s decision to attend the inaugural ceremony. “This is a well-come step,” Pradhan said.
