Where Was Opposition's Concern For Tribals When They Put Up A Candidate Against President Murmu?: BSP Chief Mayawati

BSP leader Mayawati has criticised the opposition's move of boycotting the inauguration of the new Parliament building on 28 May by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Taking a dig at those boycotting the event, she said that it was unfair on the part of opposition parties to link this with 'tribal women's respect' and that they should have thought about this while fielding a candidate against her (Droupadi Murmu) instead of electing her unopposed as the President.

While 19 opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool and DMK have decided to boycott the inaugural event of the new Parliament building, they have also issued a joint statement saying that the President and not the PM should be inaugurating the new Parliament building.

According to their statement, this completely sideline President Murmu and 'is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response.'

In response to the political drama that's unfolding in the opposition camp, in a Twitter thread Mayawati welcomed Centre's move of PM inaugurating the event. She said:

"Whether it was Congress party at the Center in the past or the BJP in the present, the BSP has always supported the government on issues related to the country and public interest, rising above party politics, and therefore, seeing the inauguration of the new Parliament Building on 28 May in this context, the party (BSP) supports and welcomes it."

"The boycott for not inaugurating the new Parliament by President Droupadi Murmu is unfair. The government has made it so it has the right to inaugurate it, she added.

She further went on to call out the hypocrisy and unfairness of the Opposition camp linking this with 'tribal women's respect'.

"The Opposition camp which is linking this with tribal women's respect is also very unfair. They should have thought of this while fielding a candidate against her (Droupadi Murmu) instead of electing her unopposed as the President," Mayawati said.

However, while extending her best wishes for the inaugural ceremony, Mayawati informed in her tweet that she would not be able to attend the event.

"I have received the invitation for the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building, for which I thank and extend my best wishes. But due to my pre-scheduled engagement regarding the continuous review meetings of the party, I will not be able to attend it," she said.

Besides Mayawati, Ruling YSRCP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy also supported and congratulated the Centre for the inauguration ceremony.

"In the true spirit of democracy, my party will attend this historic event," tweeted Reddy, congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi for dedicating a grand, majestic and spacious Parliament building to the nation.