Opposition Boycotts Modi's Inauguration of New Parliament Building in Protest of Growing Authoritarianism

India's major opposition parties boycotted the inauguration of a new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in protest of what they see as his growing authoritarianism and undermining of India's democracy.
The new Parliament building is part of Modi's $2.8 billion plan to revamp British-era architecture in New Delhi and centralize power around himself.
Modi inaugurated the new triangular-shaped Parliament building, which has 1,272 seats, triple the space and nearly 500 more seats than the old building, during a televised ceremony.
Modi installed a royal golden sceptre in the new Parliament building and critics accuse him of attacking India's secularism to reshape it as a Hindu-first nation.
Modi's opponents hope to make protecting democracy and federalism the main issues in next year's general election to curb Modi's authoritarian ambitions.