JD(U) President slams Harivansh for participating in new Parliament’s inauguration

The Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman faced backlash for taking part in the inauguration of the new parliament building despite the boycott of the function by the party

May 29, 2023 04:51 pm | Updated 10:21 pm IST - Patna

 Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh addresses at the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building, in New Delhi on Sunday.

Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh addresses at the inauguration ceremony of the new Parliament building, in New Delhi on Sunday. | Photo Credit: ANI

Janata Dal (United) has reacted sharply to its MP and Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha Harivansh’s decision to attend the inaugural ceremony of the new Parliament, against the party’s order boycotting the event along with 21 other opposition parties.

Mr. Harivansh, played a pivotal role in the proceedings, reading out messages from President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who weren’t invited for the event. 

JD(U)‘s National President Rajiv Ranjan Singh strongly criticised Mr. Harivansh’s decision. When asked to explain Mr. Harivansh’s participation while rest of the party MPs stayed away, Mr. Singh told The Hindu, “It is for him (Mr. Harivansh) to explain. It clearly looks like he has thrown his moral conscience in a dustbin and moved on. The entire opposition for concrete reasons took a collective decision not to be part of this exercise in self aggrandisation and an attempt to rewrite the history of the country.”  

Ignoring JD(U)‘s political re-alignment in August 2022, when it walked out of alliance with BJP to join hands with the RJD, Congress and Left parties, Mr. Harivansh continued to remain in the post. He did not make any public comment on the JD(U)-BJP divorce and neither did he resign from the party. 

“Since August 2022, he (Mr. Harivansh) has been working for the BJP. But he forgets, that it was the JD(U) and Nitish Kumar ji, who sent him to the Rajya Sabha. It was again Nitish ji and not the BJP, who called every floor leader and Presidents of political parties to ensure that he is elected to the post of Deputy Chairman,” Mr. Singh added,  

Though Mr. Singh, did not answer a question on disciplinary action against Mr. Harivansh, who has another three-years to go in his current term. The party can move for disqualification on grounds of anti-party activity. 

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