Alleging that the government is riding roughshod over the Constitution in governance and law-making, opposition parties on Friday boycotted the “Constitution Day” function in the Central Hall of Parliament which was attended by President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Narendra Modi among others.

Congress, Trinamool Congress, Left parties, RJD, NCP, Shiv Sena, SP and DMK among others stayed away from the function after Leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge spoke to them on Thursday evening with the plan for boycott. The issue was discussed in the Parliament strategy group meeting of Congress that was chaired by party president Sonia Gandhi.

“It is important to remind the government that mere observance of this day as a government function, and disrespecting the spirit and essence of the Constitution, is a very poor reflection on the state of affairs,“ senior Congress leader Anand Sharma told a press conference. “Our protest is about the manner in which the government is conducting the state of affairs, enacting laws, decision making. Every single constitutional institution has been subverted, is under constant attack,” he added.

Sharma said enactment of farm laws was an example of the governments mindset, as legislations are never referred to the parliamentary standing committees and stakeholders are excluded from discussions.

Congress also lashed out at the government for excluding the opposition from the planning of the “Constitution Day” function, and said mere invitation to sit in the Central Hall was not acceptable to the opposition which is an integral part of constitutional democracy.

Slamming the PM’s criticism, he said democracy was strengthened from 1947–2014 by the Congress governments, as a result of which Narendra Modi could become the PM in 2014.

CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury said celebrating Constitution Day at a time when its fundamental features are routinely undermined is complete “hypocrisy” of the government.

(With inputs from agencies)