Moment of historical pride! MNM President celebrates the inauguration of the new parliament!

27 May 2023

The inauguration of the new Parliament tomorrow, is a moment of celebration for the entire country and moves me with immense pride. I congratulate the Government of India for this historic achievement.

In national interest, I choose to celebrate the inauguration of the new Parliament with you, while maintaining my dissent over not inviting the Hon. President of India and for not involving opposition parties in the planning of the inauguration.

This moment of national pride has become politically divisive. I ask my Prime Minister one simple question; “Please tell the country, why the President of India should not attend the inauguration of our new Parliament?” I see no reason why the President of India as Head of the State should not be part of this historic occasion.

Bills passed by the Parliament become law of the land only when the President assents to it. It is the president who has the power to convene or adjourn sessions of Parliament. The President of the Republic is integral to the functioning of the Parliament.

I advise the Prime Minister to make the conciliatory gesture and invite Hon. President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu. The new Parliament is no mere ordinary building. It will be the home of Indian democracy for time immemorial. I call upon the Prime Minister to rectify this oversight, which will go down in history as a grave error, and if rectified will become a milestone in political leadership.

Our republic’s new home needs all its family members to reside in it. I believe in participatory democracy and hence call upon all opposition parties who have chosen to boycott the event to reconsider. Any disagreements you may have over the event can be raised in public forums as well as on the floor of the houses of the new Parliament.

I would like all political parties to remember that there is more that unites us than divides us. The entire country is looking forward to this event and the eyes of the world are upon us. Let’s make the inauguration of a new Parliament an occasion of national unity, our political
disagreements can wait for a day.

Jai Hind.

- Kamal Haasan,
President, Makkal Needhi Maiam.