Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge skip Independence Day event at Red Fort, cite 'improper protocol'
PTC News Desk: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge skipped 80th Independence event at Red Fort for the second consecutive year, citing improper protocol.
According to the sources, the Congress leaders said that the seating arrangements and other ceremonial protocols were not in accordance with their positions.
The absence of Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi came amid an ongoing controversy over the seating arrangements at national events.
In 2024, Rahul Gandhi, who had been appointed the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was seated in the fifth row during the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort. The Congress strongly criticised the arrangement, claiming it was an insult to the office of the Leader of Opposition. However, the Defence Ministry said the seating plan had been changed to accommodate Olympians attending the event.
Rahul Gandhi and Kharge also did not attend the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort in 2025.
The Congress has raised similar concerns about the seating arrangements at other national events. During the Republic Day celebrations in 2026, the party objected after Gandhi and Kharge were reportedly seated in the third row.
However, the Defence Ministry maintained that the seating arrangements for the 2025 and 2026 Republic Day celebrations followed the Table of Precedence, which determines seating and protocol at official ceremonies based on constitutional rank and official position, rather than political affiliation.
- With inputs from agencies
