Gandhi was noticed sitting behind a number of rows occupied by members of the Indian contingent from the not too long ago concluded Paris Video games.It was for the primary time in a decade {that a} Chief of the Opposition was current at Pink Fort for the Independence Day celebrations.
As per a number of media reviews, officers of the ministry of defence, which organises the occasion, stated the seating was organized “based on the desk of priority”, with the choice made to honor “Paris Olympics medal winners” as particular company this 12 months.
The entrance rows had been occupied by Olympic medallists akin to Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh. Members of the Olympic-bronze-winning hockey crew, together with its captain Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh, had been additionally seated forward of Rahul Gandhi.
As per protocol, the Chief of the Opposition within the Lok Sabha, whose rank is equal to that of a Cupboard Minister, is at all times assigned a seat within the entrance row. The entrance row was occupied by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Amit Shah and S Jaishankar.
‘Petty mindset’
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate asserted that PM Modi displays a “petty mindset”, persistently revealing this facet of his character.
“It’s pointless to anticipate important actions from small-minded people. Modi’s resolution to position Rahul Gandhi within the fifth row through the Independence Day occasion displays his frustration, but it surely doesn’t deter Gandhi from addressing the individuals’s considerations,” she said in a video on X.
“Nonetheless, this act underscores an absence of respect for democracy, democratic traditions, and the Chief of the Opposition,” she added.
Shrinate emphasised that the Chief of the Opposition holds a rank equal to a cupboard minister, whereas authorities ministers occupied the entrance row.
“Not solely was Rahul Gandhi relegated to the fifth row, however Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was additionally assigned to the identical row,” she famous.
She criticized the protection ministry’s justification for the seating association, which claimed it was meant to honor Olympians, questioning why distinguished leaders like Amit Shah, J P Nadda, S Jaishankar, and Nirmala Sitharaman weren’t additionally acknowledged.
“The Chief of the Opposition is essential for holding the federal government accountable and voicing public points,” Shrinate said.
“These people with a petty mindset disregard democracy and its traditions,” she alleged.
She additional claimed that Modi and his ministers are uneasy with Gandhi’s inquiries.
“Whether or not Rahul Gandhi is seated within the fifth row or the fiftieth, he’ll at all times be a frontrunner for the individuals. When will you stop these disgraceful actions?” she remarked on X.
Congress chief Vivek Tankha echoed this sentiment, questioning Modi’s pettiness in a put up on X, emphasizing that the Chief of the Opposition needs to be seated greater than any cupboard minister.
