Rahul seated on second last row on I-Day, triggers debate
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a rousing speech on Independence Day at the Red Fort, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi was seen seated in the second last row. Netizens were quick to point out this oddity, with many calling the move to seat him in the back row "shameful." Wearing a plain white kurta-pyjama, the Congress politician was seen sitting next to India's hockey team forward Gurjant Singh.
Gandhi's seating arrangement triggers social media chatter
Olympic medalists Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh, as well as members of the Olympic bronze-winning hockey team, including captain Harmanpreet Singh and PR Sreejesh, sat in the row ahead of him. The front row was occupied by Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Amit Shah and S Jaishankar. Notably, Gandhi's presence marks the first time a Leader of the Opposition was present at the Red Fort for the Independence Day celebrations.
Government's response to the controversy
Following the social media chatter over the seating arrangement, sources in the Ministry of Defense stated that Gandhi had to be moved back as the front rows were allocated to Olympic medal winners. The Ministry of Defense is responsible for organizing the Independence Day event and determining seating arrangements. According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition, whose rank is equivalent to a Cabinet Minister, is usually assigned a seat in the front row, India Today reported, citing sources.
