PM should request President to inaugurate new Parliament building: NCP

New Delhi: Amid the boycott call by 19 parties of the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building on Sunday, the NCP on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a personal request to President Droupadi Murmu to do the honours.

NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said the prime minister must follow Article 79 of the Constitution and invite the constitutional head of the country to inaugurate the new parliament building.

Earlier in the day, the 19 opposition parties including the NCP announced boycott of the inauguration ceremony. In a joint statement, they insisted that the building should be inaugurated by the president and not the prime minister.

"PM Narendra Modi ji must follow Article 79 of Indian constitution and personally request Hon'ble President Ms. Droupadi Murmu ji to inaugurate the new Parliament building. President is the Constitutional head of the country therefore is it her right to inaugurate," Crasto said.