Constitution Day event
New Delhi: In a correspondence addressed to Speaker Om Birla, leaders from the INDIA bloc have requested that Opposition representatives in both Houses be permitted to address the Constitution Day event. As preparations are underway for a joint session of Parliament, which will be addressed by President Droupadi Murmu to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Constitution, tensions have arisen between the government and the Opposition regarding the roster of speakers.
In their letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the leaders from various parties within the INDIA bloc emphasized the importance of allowing Opposition leaders in both Houses to speak during the ceremony taking place in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan, the historic Parliament building.
“We are writing in relation to the event scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan to honor the 75th anniversary of the Constitution of India. We acknowledge that the President, Vice President, and Prime Minister will address the gathering. However, we contend that, in keeping with the esteemed traditions of Parliamentary democracy, the Leaders of Opposition (LoPs) in both Houses should also be afforded the opportunity to speak on this significant occasion,” the letter states.
The government responded shortly thereafter, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accusing “certain Opposition parties” of reacting without a full understanding of the arrangements. He clarified that Prime Minister Modi would not be speaking at the event.
“The issue with some of the Opposition parties is that they react without being aware of the actual arrangements. The Prime Minister will not be addressing the function tomorrow (Tuesday). The Speaker, the Vice President, and the President of India will be the speakers,” Rijiju was quoted as saying by Indian Express in its report.
