Going towards custom and protocol, Congress’s Rahul Gandhi was positioned within the penultimate row on the Independence Day celebrations, opening a brand new entrance between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Get together. Earlier than the morning ceremony ended, social media started to flood with indignant protests from congressional leaders and supporters. The Ministry of Protection, which organized the occasion, issued a clarifying assertion however did not quell the wave of criticism.
In accordance with protocol, the chief of the opposition social gathering, who holds cupboard rank, sat within the entrance row on the ceremonial occasion. This 12 months, the platoon consists of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Amit Shah and S Jaishankar, amongst others.
Mr Gandhi was seen sitting within the fifth row, behind India’s Olympic medalists. India’s star strikers Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh in addition to hockey gamers together with India captain Harmanpreet Singh and goalkeeper PR Sreej PR Sreejesh was sitting in entrance of him.
Sources within the Ministry of Exterior Affairs stated that the seating association for the ceremonial occasion follows the order of priority and protocol. “This 12 months, it has been determined to honor the Olympic medalists. It’s noteworthy that some federal ministers are additionally sitting behind the Olympic medalists,” a supply stated.
That rationalization was torn to items by Congress.
“The MoD’s weak rationalization that this was out of ‘respect for the Olympians’ does not make a lot sense. Whereas Olympians deserve respect, I ponder concerning the likes of Amit Shah or Nirmala Sitharaman Ji? How cupboard ministers received entrance row seats earlier than them,” senior Congress chief KC Venugopal posted on X (previously generally known as Twitter).
“As per the settlement, the LoPs of each homes even have to sit down within the entrance row however the seats of Rahul ji and INC President Shri Mallikarjun @kharge ji are within the fifth row. This isn’t simply an insult to the place of LoP or Rahul ji; it’s to the individuals of India The insult, Rahulji represents the voice of the individuals of India in Parliament,” Mr Venugopal added.
Modi, it is time you get up to the brand new actuality after June 4. You belittle the conceitedness of LoP Shri @rahulgandhi Sitting within the final row at an Independence Day ceremony reveals you haven’t discovered your lesson.
The weak point of the Ministry of Protection… pic.twitter.com/FZYldFveTQ
— KC Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) August 15, 2024
“The Ministry of Protection issued a silly assertion saying ‘that is performed to honor the Olympians.’ They need to be recommended, Vinesh Fugate must be recommended, however Amit Shah, J.P. Nadda, S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharaman didn’t need to be honored, stated social gathering spokesperson Supriya Shrinate.
Get together chief Manikam Tagore identified that previously, the UPA authorities had proven correct respect to opposition leaders and shared a photograph as proof.
Dissatisfied to see Chief of Opposition in Protection Bench Rahul Gandhi sitting within the fourth row #independent day celebration. Opposition leaders like Advani ji and Swaraj ji got due respect until 2014.
Why is Modi stooping so low?@rajnathsinghfortunate? pic.twitter.com/uKpz8wm2C5
— Manickam Tagore.B🇮🇳Manickam Tagore (@manickamtagore) August 15, 2024
The NDA authorities led by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee allotted a front-bench seat to the then chief of opposition Sonia Gandhi.
