Not Row 1 or 4, Rahul Gandhi In Row 6 At R-Day Parade. Congress Furious

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala posted what he called a telling image of "petty politics" by the government, saying "the arrogant rulers deliberately seated... Rahul Gandhi in the fourth row, then sixth row, on Republic Day"

All India | Reported by , Edited by | Updated: January 26, 2018 14:11 IST
Not Row 1 or 4, Rahul Gandhi In Row 6 At R-Day Parade. Congress Furious

Congress president Rahul Gandhi watched the Republic Day parade from the sixth row

New Delhi: 

Highlights

  1. Congress says it's the first time party's chief not given front row seat
  2. Rahul Gandhi was seen in sixth row with Congress's Ghulam Nabi Azad
  3. Congress alleged "deliberate humiliation" of Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi watched the Republic Day parade today from the sixth row at Delhi's Rajpath, seated closer to the public than to union ministers and senior BJP leaders. Sources in the Congress say it is the first time since independence that the party's chief has not been assigned a seat in the front row.

The 47-year-old was seen in the sixth row with Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. His security men crowded next to him, appearing to block the view of scores of people sitting in the back. Amit Shah, the president of the ruling BJP, was seen in the front row with senior leader LK Advani.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala posted what he called a telling image of "petty politics" by the government. "The arrogant rulers deliberately seated Congress president Rahul Gandhi in the fourth row, then sixth row, on Republic Day, discarding all convention. For us celebrating the Republic is above all," he tweeted.

Rahul Gandhi's mother Sonia Gandhi, who was Congress president for 19 years, was always seated in the front row.

The Congress, furious, has alleged breach of protocol and "deliberate humiliation" of Rahul Gandhi, who took over as party president last month, that too in front of world leaders.
 
modi republic day 2018

Republic Day 2018: PM Narendra Modi thanked the Heads of State of ASEAN for attending the event

Ten heads of state from ASEAN or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were chief guests at the Republic Day parade. They were seated on a 100-foot wide stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Congress also alleges that the BJP-led government ensured that no visiting foreign dignitary met opposition parties, a convention followed for years.

Comments
Close [X]
In 2012, when the Congress was in power at the centre, the BJP had threatened to boycott functions at the presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan because its leaders were not seated at the main table with the President during an At Home that he hosted.

Rahul Gandhi yesterday urged Indians to defend the Constitution and its commitment to justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, in a rare open letter by an opposition leader before Republic day.
 

Trending