Rahul Gandhi calls the New Parliament ‘a distraction’  

The inauguration of the New Parliament building was surrounded by a fierce political debate as several opposition parties, including Congress, decided to boycott the ceremony. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently spoke about his views on the current political situation in India in San Fransisco, US, where he called the New Parliament building and the Sengol a distraction from the real issues of the country. “BJP can’t really discuss the real issues of the country – like unemployment, price rise, and crumbling education system. Communities like Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and Dalits are feeling attacked as there is a spread of anger and hatred,” he said.  

One of the major issues raised by Opposition leaders on this issue was that President Droupadi Murmu was not invited to the New Parliament ceremony and why PM Narendra Modi inaugurated it instead of the President. The sacred Sengol that was placed in the Parliament also sparked a political debate. While Opposition leaders protest that Parliament should be above religious symbolism, BJP leaders state that Sengol symbolises Indian culture and the transfer of power from British colonialism to Indian civilization.   

Image source: ANI