The Republic Day celebrations on Monday noticed a showcase of India’s defence prowess to the world, however have been additionally marked by a spat at house — between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP) and the primary opposition celebration Congress over seating preparations and protocol.
It was centred round two incidents, alleged and in any other case — the seating of opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge throughout the parade at Kartavya Path, after which Rahul’s not carrying a standard garment throughout the President’s ‘At Residence’ reception.
Seating association flip bone of rivalry
The friction started throughout the morning parade when photos emerged of the Chief of the Opposition within the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who’s Chief of the Opposition within the Rajya Sabha, seated within the third row.
Sharing an image of the leaders, Congress normal secretary Randeep Surjewala requested on social media, “Does such therapy of the chief of the opposition within the nation meet the requirements of any decorum, custom, and protocol?” Surjewala added that “in a democracy, variations will persist, however this therapy meted out to Shri Rahul Gandhi is unacceptable”.
Congress MP Vivek Tankha described the scenario as “sheer lack of protocol and charm”, arguing that “making them sit within the again rows isn’t an insult to them however to the nation”.
He stated he didn’t recall comparable therapy being meted out to former opposition leaders like Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley of the BJP.
The BJP defended the seating association by citing official tips. BJP nationwide spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala stated, “Seating is set by a set format – Warrant or Desk of Priority.” He noticed that “one can see even senior cupboard ministers round and even behind Rahul Gandhi however none of them made it a problem”. Poonawala accused the Congress of placing “entitlement and ego, parivar and place above individuals”.
Row extends, this time over headgear
The confrontation stretched into the night ‘At Residence’ reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of “disrespecting the tradition and folks of North-East” by “selecting to not put on patka”, conventional headgear. The celebration claimed he refused a request by President Droupadi Murmu.
Senior BJP chief and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, recognized for his nearly each day digs at his former celebration Congress, commented too: “In an act that was deeply insensitive and insulting to the individuals of your entire North East, Mr. Gandhi selected to not put on the normal patka, a logo of the area’s wealthy cultural heritage.”
The Congress rejected the accusations, with MP Manickam Tagore sharing {a photograph} of Union defence minister Rajnath Singh to counter the BJP’s narrative, saying he didn’t put on it both. Tagore stated the BJP should “cease dragging the Hon’ble President into your low cost politics”.
Reviews citing unnamed sources additionally stated that Kharge selected to depart the At Residence early, together with Rahul Gandhi, and the latter didn’t greet PM Narendra Modi.
(inputs from ANI, PTI)
