Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Chief of Opposition within the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the Independence Day celebrations on the Crimson Castle on Saturday, as an argument over their seating preparations persisted for a 3rd consecutive yr.
High Minister Narendra Modi led the eightieth Independence Day celebrations on the Crimson Castle, the place he unfurled the nationwide flag and addressed the country. The absence of the 2 senior Congress leaders induced grievance from the BJP.
The Congress leaders as a substitute attended the Independence Day celebrations on the birthday celebration headquarters, Indira Bhawan, the place the Tricolour used to be hoisted.
Seating association stays at centre of row
The most recent controversy comes in opposition to the backdrop of a dispute over Rahul Gandhi’s seating on the Crimson Castle rite in 2024. Gandhi, who has Cupboard minister rank as Chief of Opposition within the Lok Sabha, used to be seated within the second-last row that yr.
The Congress had objected to the association, arguing that the Chief of Opposition must were seated within the entrance row. The Defence Ministry had stated the seating plan used to be now not meant to unmarried out Gandhi and that front-row puts were allotted to Olympians being felicitated on the match.
This yr, resources stated the Defence Ministry shared with the Congress main points of seating preparations given to former BJP Leaders of Opposition, together with Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, all the way through earlier governments.
Then again, Congress resources stated the leaders weren’t satisfied by means of the reason and selected to not attend the Crimson Castle rite.
Kharge, who’s the Chief of Opposition within the Rajya Sabha and has Cupboard minister rank, used to be reportedly assigned a seat in the second one or 3rd row. Congress resources stated the positioning used to be inconvenient for him to succeed in.
The Congress has maintained that protocol calls for the Chief of Opposition to be given a outstanding place all the way through main ceremonial events.
BJP goals Congress leaders
The BJP criticised Rahul Gandhi and Kharge for his or her absence from the nationwide Independence Day rite.
BJP chief RP Singh wondered the explanation cited for Kharge’s absence, declaring that the Congress president frequently climbs the steps at Makar Dwar in Parliament however didn’t attend the Crimson Castle match.
The Congress management had additionally skipped the Crimson Castle celebrations in 2025, making this the 3rd consecutive yr that Rahul Gandhi and Kharge didn’t attend, in line with stories.
The row comes amid persisted political friction between the ruling BJP and Congress, with each events ceaselessly clashing over protocol, parliamentary problems and the behavior of presidency occasions.
Regardless of the debate, Congress leaders marked Independence Day one at a time on the birthday celebration headquarters, whilst the nationwide rite on the Crimson Castle remained the primary legit match.
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