Rahul Gandhi avoids I-Day event

There is obviously no end to the controversy arising from the BJP and the Congress party leaders. They come in straight controversy from time to time. This is a straightforward fact even on this stormy day.

This year's Independence Day event saw the absence of the two senior Congress leaders, viz., Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, from the historic Red Fort. This attracted sufficient attention amid previous dissent over the protocol and seating arrangements at such a magnificent annual I-Day event.

Rahul Gandhi had undoubtedly been invited to this year's Independence Day ceremony. In this regard, the Defence Ministry stated that seating arrangements were completed in exact accordance with the Table of Precedence. 

This point plainly specifies the protocol positions at official state functions.

As per the Warrant of Precedence issued by the President's Secretariat, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha holds a place equal to that of a Union Cabinet Minister. This remains a defined rule.

However, their extremely specific absence comes in sharp contrast to the well-known backdrop of a 2024 controversy: Rahul Gandhi, after becoming the Leader of the Opposition, was seated in the fifth row during the Independence Day celebrations.