BJP has reduced the President’s office to ‘mere tokenism’, says Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Mounting a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government for not “inviting” President Droupadi Murmu to inaugurate the new Parliament building, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on May 22 said that the President of India, being the highest Constitutional authority, alone represents the government, the Opposition, and the citizens alike.

Following up on Mr. Kharge’s comments, senior leader Anand Sharma later addressed a press conference at the Congress headquarters and asserted that it was “constitutionally improper” for the government to leave out the President, who heads the Parliament, including both Houses of Parliament.

Earlier, in a series of tweets, Mr. Kharge said the inauguration of the new Parliament building by President Murmu would “symbolise Government’s commitment to Democratic values and Constitutional propriety.”