Congress Criticizes PM Modi for Seating Rahul Gandhi in Fifth Row During Independence Day
The Congress party has expressed strong disapproval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for seating Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, in the fifth row during the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.
Violation of Democratic Traditions
Congress leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot criticized the move, calling it a ‘violation of democratic traditions’ and a display of narrow-mindedness. He stated, “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.”
Petty Mindset
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate also condemned the decision, asserting that PM Modi exhibits a “petty mindset.” She said, “Modi’s decision to place Rahul Gandhi in the fifth row during the Independence Day event reflects his frustration, but it does not deter Gandhi from addressing the people’s concerns.”
Protocol Ignored
According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, whose rank is equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister, is always assigned a seat in the front row. However, the front row was occupied by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Amit Shah, and S Jaishankar.
Rahul Gandhi was observed sitting behind several rows occupied by members of the Indian contingent from the recently concluded Paris Games, including Olympic medallists Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh, and members of the Olympic-bronze-winning hockey team.
Doubts Revealed
Congress -: Congress is one of the major political parties in India. It has been around for a long time and has had many Prime Ministers from its party.
PM Modi -: PM Modi stands for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is the current Prime Minister of India.
Rahul Gandhi -: Rahul Gandhi is a leader in the Congress party and is the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of India’s Parliament.
Independence Day -: Independence Day in India is celebrated on August 15th every year. It marks the day when India became independent from British rule in 1947.
Red Fort -: The Red Fort is a historic fort in Delhi, India. It is where the Prime Minister gives a speech every Independence Day.
Ashok Gehlot -: Ashok Gehlot is a senior leader in the Congress party and the Chief Minister of Rajasthan, a state in India.
Supriya Shrinate -: Supriya Shrinate is a spokesperson for the Congress party. She often speaks on behalf of the party in the media.
Lok Sabha -: The Lok Sabha is the lower house of India’s Parliament. It is where elected representatives make laws and discuss important issues.
Cabinet Minister -: A Cabinet Minister is a senior member of the government who is in charge of a specific department, like education or health.