Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s inauguration of the new Parliament on May 28 without the President or Vice-President came under flak from Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar, who said that he was “satisfied” he did not attend the event, even while expressing concern about the regressive nature of the ceremony.
“[India’s first PM] Jawaharlal Nehru had conceptualised a modern Indian democracy. Going by the rituals that took place during the inauguration ceremony, one wonders whether the country is going backwards. There is a massive difference between Nehru’s resolution of a modern India and what is happening today. Looking at all this, I am even more satisfied I did not attend the ceremony,” said Mr. Pawar, speaking in Pune.
