NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday accused the Centre of violating established protocol and undermining democratic decorum after Chief of Opposition within the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge have been seated within the third row throughout the Republic Day celebrations. The incident has triggered sharp reactions from senior social gathering leaders.Main the criticism, Congress chief Randeep Singh Surjewala questioned whether or not the seating association met constitutional and institutional norms. In a submit on X, Surjewala mentioned the therapy mirrored the federal government’s mindset reasonably than protocol.
“Does such therapy of the Chief of the Opposition within the nation meet the requirements of any decorum, custom, and protocol? This solely reveals the frustration of a authorities stricken by an inferiority advanced. In a democracy, variations will persist, however this therapy meted out to Shri Rahul Gandhi is unacceptable,” he wrote.Different Congress leaders echoed comparable issues, arguing that the choice diminished the dignity of constitutional workplaces. Congress MP Manickam Tagore mentioned the problem went past seating and mirrored the federal government’s political strategy.“Till 2014, opposition leaders like Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and L Ok Advani at all times sat there. This can be a very low stage of politics by the federal government. Opposition leaders being insulted on Republic Day is unacceptable. Republic Day is the day after we all ought to be united and rejoice India’s achievements that yr,” he mentioned.Tagore additionally shared an outdated {photograph} from the 2014 Republic Day celebrations to query the seating association of opposition leaders this yr.In a submit on X, he wrote, “This was in 2014—take a look at the place LK Advani ji was seated then. Why this protocol mess-up now? Is it as a result of Modi and Shah wish to insult Kharge ji and Rahul ji? Leaders of the Opposition can’t be insulted like this, particularly on Republic Day.” Senior Congress chief Rashid Alvi mentioned each Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge held key constitutional positions and deserved front-row seating.“Rahul Gandhi is the Chief of the Opposition within the Lok Sabha, and Mallikarjun Kharge just isn’t solely the Congress president but additionally the Chief of the Opposition within the Rajya Sabha. They need to have been given seats within the entrance row. The BJP is consistently enjoying with the dignity of Congress leaders,” he mentioned.Congress chief Kumari Selja linked the controversy to a broader disregard for constitutional norms.“Protocols maintain nice significance. The nation takes delight within the Republic Day parade, the place we rejoice our democracy and the republic,” she mentioned, alleging that the federal government repeatedly sought to belittle the workplace of the Chief of Opposition.
Protocol and seating norms
The Leaders of Opposition within the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are positioned alongside union cupboard ministers within the official Desk of Priority, which governs protocol at nationwide features comparable to Republic Day.In keeping with the Warrant of Priority issued by the President’s Secretariat, seating preparations at state and ceremonial events are determined based mostly on constitutional rank and workplace and never political affiliation.The Order of Priority is a protocol listing that applies to state and ceremonial events, together with nationwide occasions such because the Republic Day celebrations and has no software within the day-to-day functioning of the federal government.Beneath Article 7 of the Desk of Priority, the Leaders of Opposition within the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha are positioned alongside Union Cupboard ministers, after the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India and former Prime Ministers.
BJP hits again
Rejecting the Congress’s allegations, the BJP mentioned the seating association on the Republic Day celebrations was determined strictly in response to established protocol. BJP nationwide spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, in a submit on X, launched a pointy assault on the Congress, accusing it of inserting entitlement and family-centric politics above constitutional norms.“As soon as once more Congress places entitlement & ego, parivar and place above individuals. They really feel parivar tantra is above sanvidhan tantra. Seating is determined by a set format – Warrant or Desk of Priority. One can see even senior Cupboard ministers round and even behind Rahul Gandhi however none of them made it a difficulty,” Poonawalla wrote.He additionally questioned Rahul Gandhi’s attendance at main constitutional occasions up to now.“Rahul thinks he’s the proprietor of India? By the way in which why does he bunk necessary packages. The place was he throughout VP oath? CJI oath? I-Day program?” BJP’s nationwide spokesperson additional wrote.The BJP has beforehand criticised Gandhi for skipping the oath-taking of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, alleging that such absences confirmed disregard for constitutional events. The social gathering has additionally flagged Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge’s absence from the Independence Day celebrations on the Purple Fort final yr, although each leaders had issued Independence Day messages on social media.
