New Delhi

Amid the opposition objection to Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the new Parliament building on May 28, the official invitation put out by the Lok Sabha Secretariat shows that the ceremony will be performed by PM Modi in the presence of the Speaker of the Lower House, Om Birla.

The invitation has been sent to various dignitaries including members of Parliament by the Lok Sabha secretary general Utpal Kumar Singh. The event will begin at 12 pm (noon) on May 28.

This comes at a time when the opposition led by the Congress party has questioned the government over the Prime Minister inaugurating the new Parliament building and accused the BJP-led central government of insulting the top constitutional post of the country by not asking President of India Droupadi Murmu or Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar for the inauguration.

Leading the attack against the Congress party, Union Minister for Urban Development (MoUD), Hardeep Singh Puri tweeted, " Congress has a habit of raking controversies where none exist. While President is the Head of State, PM is the Head of Govt and leads the Parliament on behalf of the Govt, whose Policies are effected in form of Laws. The President is not a Member of either House, whereas PM is.."

Other opposition leaders who spoke to the same tune as the Congress party include AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi and TMC's Sukendu Sekhar Roy.

According to reports, several opposition leaders are also considering boycotting the inaugural function on Sunday, alleging that the government has insulted the President.

In December 2020, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi did the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Parliament building, the event was boycotted by Congress.

The present building of the Parliament was completed in 1927, which is now going to be almost 100 years old. The lack of space was being experienced in this building as per the present requirements. In both Houses, there was also a lack of convenient arrangements for the sitting of the MPs which was affecting the efficiency of the work of the Members.

Considering the above, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha passed resolutions urging the government to construct a new building for the Parliament. Consequently, on December 10, 2020, the foundation stone of the new building of Parliament was laid by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The newly constructed Parliament building has been built in record time with quality construction.

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In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha while 250 in the Rajya Sabha. Keeping in view the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha while 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both Houses will be held in the Lok Sabha Chamber.