PM Modi’s tendency to place himself at the center of all the glitz and glitter of major government activities is problematic
Published Date – Friday, 5/26/23 at 12:30pm
PM Modi’s tendency to place himself at the center of all the glitz and glitter of major government activities is problematic
It should come as no surprise that a self-absorbed leader turns into a narcissist. In fact, it was seen as a natural progression. While this shift may further boost politicians’ egos, it does not bode well for any country or its people. The political debate surrounding the upcoming inauguration of a new parliament building in New Delhi has shown how one’s self-obsession can compromise the core values of democracy, the ultimate symbol of democracy. There is a problem with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tendency to place himself at the center of all the pomp and circumstance of major government events and command all the attention. This amounts to disregarding traditional consensus methods and depriving others of their contributions. The prime minister himself will inaugurate the complex on May 28, a move that has not been popular with the opposition. The constitution says the inauguration must be presided over by the president, not the prime minister, the highest constitutional authority. As many as 20 opposition parties including Congress, Trinamool Congress, DMK, BRS and Aam Aadmi Party decided to boycott the event. They rightly argue that ignoring President Drupadi Murmu is a direct attack on democratic and constitutional values. The issue has virtually brought together all opposition parties who claim they find no value in new buildings when the “soul of democracy” is sucked out of Parliament.
Constitutional experts also argue that justice should be done by the president, not the prime minister. The BJP leadership is trying to turn things around, accusing the opposition of playing politics at a historic moment. It claimed there was nothing unprecedented about the inauguration, as then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annex in October 1975, while Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation stone for the Parliamentary Library in August 1987. The government’s choice of a date for the ceremony, which coincides with the birth anniversary of Hindu theorist VD Savarkar, has also been called into question. The new parliament building is part of the government’s ambitious project to develop the Central Vista Power Corridor in the national capital, which has been controversial from the start. Many opposition parties, environmentalists and civil society groups have criticized the cost of the project. When Modi first entered parliament in 2014, he knelt and bowed his head in a show of respect for the “temple of democracy”. It is time for him to step back and let this remarkable building—the embodiment of a vibrant democracy—take all the spotlight. Accepting the opposition’s request to invite the president to preside over the inauguration only shows his generosity. No controversy should be allowed to derail this momentous event.
