New Delhi: Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge skipped the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year, amid a lingering dispute over seating arrangements and protocol.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on Saturday.
Absence sparks political debate
The absence of the two senior Congress leaders has triggered a political debate, particularly against the backdrop of the seating controversy involving Rahul Gandhi at the 2024 Independence Day event.
Gandhi, who is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, had been invited to this year’s celebrations. The government had also clarified ahead of the event that his seating would follow the official Table of Precedence.
Seating row continues to draw attention
The controversy dates back to 2024, when Gandhi’s placement at the Red Fort celebrations drew objections from the Congress. Reports at the time said he was seated in the fifth row, with the party arguing that the position did not adequately reflect the status of the Leader of the Opposition.
This year, the government had sought to address the protocol issue by stating that Gandhi would be seated according to the established order of precedence.
Despite the clarification, Gandhi and Kharge did not attend the Red Fort ceremony.
Congress leaders stay away again
The latest absence has renewed discussion over whether the earlier seating dispute continues to influence the Opposition’s participation in official national events.
While BJP leaders have questioned the decision of the Congress leaders to stay away, the development has also prompted wider debate over whether political differences should affect participation in national occasions.
The two leaders’ absence marks the second consecutive year in which they have skipped the Red Fort Independence Day event.