GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 16th August. The seating arrangement at this year’s Independence Day celebrations has sparked controversy, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi assigned a seat in the second last row, diverging from established protocol. This decision has fueled tensions between the Congress and the BJP, drawing sharp criticism from Congress leaders and supporters on social media.
Traditionally, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), holding a cabinet-rank position, is seated in the front row during such ceremonies. This year, prominent figures including Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Amit Shah, and S. Jaishankar occupied the front row.
In contrast, Gandhi was seated in the fifth row, behind Indian Olympic medalists such as shooters Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh, and hockey players including Captain Harmanpreet Singh and goalkeeper PR Sreejesh. The Defence Ministry, which organized the event, clarified that the seating arrangement was based on precedence and protocol, with the decision made to honor Olympic medalists. The ministry noted that some Union ministers were also seated behind these athletes.
The Defence Ministry’s explanation was met with derision from Congress leaders. Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal criticized the justification, questioning why cabinet ministers were given precedence over Olympic medalists. “The Defence Ministry’s feeble explanation that it was out of ‘respect for Olympians’ doesn’t cut much ice,” Venugopal wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He added that the seating arrangement was an insult to both the position of LoP and the people Rahul Gandhi represents.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate echoed these sentiments, arguing that if Olympians deserved respect, so did Congress leaders. Party leader Manickam Tagore highlighted past instances where opposition leaders, including Sonia Gandhi under the UPA government and Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s NDA government, were given front-row seats.
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