Democratic traditions witnessed a new low on Thursday, as much against the customary seating of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in front row during Independence Day celebrations in previous years, this year, for the first time, on the occasion of 78th Independence Day celebrations, LoP in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was seated in fifth row. Also, the seating arrangement for LoP in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also president of Congress party was made in fifth row, though he did not attend the function.
Drawing sharp criticism from all over, Congress on Thursday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government for seating Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in the fifth row during the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.
Rahul, wearing a traditional white kurta, was seated in the fifth row along with Olympic medal winners while senior ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar along with Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud were seated in the front row.
Official sources maintained, all seating arrangements were made by Ministry of Defence, which organized the event. As per the table of precedence decided this year, officials informed, the Paris Olympic medal winners were to be honoured as special guests at the Independence Day celebrations.
The Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabh and Lok Sabha are in the seventh position along with cabinet ministers in the Table of Precedence.
“Modi ji, it’s about time you wake up to the new reality post-June 4”
In a post on X, Venugopal wrote “Modi ji, it’s about time you wake up to the new reality post-June 4th. The arrogance with which you relegated Lok Sabha LoP Shri Rahul Gandhiji to the last rows during the Independence Day ceremony shows that you have not learned your lesson.”
He further stated, “The Defence Ministry‘s feeble explanation that it was out of “respect for Olympians” doesn’t cut much ice. While Olympians deserve every bit of respect, I wonder how Cabinet Ministers like Amit Shah or Nirmala Sitharaman ji get front row seats ahead of them.”
“As per protocol, the LoPs of both Houses must also be seated in the front row, but the seats for Rahul ji and INC President Shri Mallikarjun Khargeji were in the 5th row. This was not only an insult to the post of LoP or Rahul ji; it was an insult to the people of India, whose voice Rahul ji represents in Parliament,” he added.
Taking a dig at the level of annoyance the government had experienced due to LoP in parliament, he further stated, “ It’s amazing how uncomfortable the truth can make some people—so much so that they’d rather rearrange the seating than face it.”
“Narrow-mindedness and violation of democratic traditions”
Meanwhile, Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot attacked the BJP, labelling it as narrow-mindedness and calling it a ‘violation of democratic traditions.’
His post on social media reads, “Since independence, there has never been any controversy over the seating arrangement of the Leader of the Opposition on Independence Day and Republic Day because the Leader of the Opposition has always been given a place in the front row with respect.”
“Today, during the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, the Central Government has displayed narrow thinking by seating the Leader of Opposition Mr Rahul Gandhi in the fifth row instead of the front row as per tradition. The whole country is watching how democratic traditions are being violated,” read his post.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate in a video on X asserted that PM Modi exhibits a “petty mindset”, consistently revealing this aspect of his character.
“Futile to expect big things from people with petty mind”
“It is futile to expect big things from people with petty mind. By making the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi sit in the fifth row during the Independence Day celebrations, Narendra Modi has certainly shown his frustration, but it does not matter to Rahul Gandhi. The rank of Leader of Opposition is that of a cabinet minister, the ministers of the government were sitting in the first row. So these people with a petty mindset do not care about democracy and democratic traditions. The statement of the Defense Ministry has further exposed the government,” she stated.
She further said, “The truth is that Modi and his ministers avoid eye contact with Rahul Gandhi, and become uncomfortable. Whether Rahul Gandhi sits in the fifth row or the fiftieth, he will remain a leader of the people – but when will you people stop doing such dirty acts?”
Mindset and background of a person cannot be changed
Says member of Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee (UPCC) Javed Urfi, “Mindset and background of a person cannot be changed. Action speaks more than words. The act of making LoP Rahul Gandhi seated in fifth row during Independence day celebrations was proof enough of the extent of frustration the government was going through and the bitterness that it harboured against Rahul Gandhi, as the latter was not leaving any stone unturned to reveal the real face of this ‘suit-boot ki sarkar’. But this misact of government would further act as a catalyst for opposition to turn tough.”
