New Delhi, August 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday criticised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for skipping the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, calling their absence a “childish act” that did not befit their positions.
Reacting to the absence of the two senior Congress leaders from the celebrations led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said attending the Independence Day ceremony was an important national responsibility and argued that staying away could affect the public perception of the leaders.
“I think this is a childish act. It does not befit the position they hold, especially when the country is celebrating Independence Day. If you do not attend such an important occasion, people will not view you favourably,” Singh said.
He also referred to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying Opposition leaders had traditionally attended Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort.
“Today, Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister, but when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was in the Opposition, he too used to attend the Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort,” Singh said.
Kharge and Rahul Gandhi were absent from the Red Fort ceremony for the second consecutive year. Their absence has been linked to the controversy over Rahul Gandhi’s seating arrangement during the 2024 Independence Day celebrations.
At the 2024 ceremony, Gandhi, despite being the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and holding Cabinet ministerial status, was seated in the second-last row. Under established protocol, the Leader of Opposition is generally seated in the front row during major ceremonial functions.
The Opposition had objected to the arrangement, describing it as disrespectful to Gandhi and contrary to established protocol.
The Defence Ministry, which organised the event, had said the seating plan was modified to accommodate Olympians attending the ceremony.
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