The manner in which the inauguration of the new Parliament was carried out is disgraceful on four counts and reflects how systematically this BJP government is moving towards the establishment of a Hindu state in all but name. First, the President was not even invited to attend the opening ceremonies let alone to make the inaugural address as should have been the case. This was a deliberate violation and undermining of the foundational principles and procedures of the particular form taken by India’s liberal democratic set-up.