Assam Congress president Gaurav Gogoi launched a sharp critique against the Central government on Tuesday, raising concerns over the seating arrangement of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge during the 77th Republic Day celebrations held in the national capital. Gogoi described their placement in the third row as disrespectful to the constitutional position of the LoP, sparking a political controversy.
Congress Leaders Express Displeasure Over Seating Protocol
A day earlier, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi attended the Republic Day parade at Delhi's Kartavya Path. However, their positioning in the third row drew immediate criticism from party members. Gogoi emphasized that the protocol to be followed towards the Leader of Opposition during the Republic Day event was not visible yesterday. He noted that this has occurred repeatedly, questioning why Prime Minister Narendra Modi disregards the respectable position of the LoP while simultaneously referring to Parliament as a temple of democracy.
Congress Voices Concern Over Protocol Violation
Another Congress leader and senior lawyer, Abhishek Singhvi, reinforced this sentiment by stating that protocol is not a favor. In a post on X, he remarked that grace is not optional, and when both are missing, it says more about the moment than the men slighted. He described the situation as disturbing but sadly unsurprising in these times.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore went further by alleging that the seating arrangement was intentionally done by the BJP to insult Rahul Gandhi. Sharing a photo from 2014, he pointed to the seating of LK Advani, asking why there is a protocol mess-up now. He questioned whether it is because Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah want to insult Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, highlighting a perceived inconsistency in treatment.
Understanding the Table of Precedence
The Union government has not yet responded to these charges. The seating arrangement at state ceremonies is strictly allotted according to the 'Table of Precedence' issued by the President's Secretariat. According to this protocol, Leaders of the Opposition rank 7th in the order of precedence. This position follows the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Governors, former Presidents, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Chief Justice of India, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers, and former Prime Ministers.
Main Ranks in the Table of Precedence
The Table of Precedence, as issued by the President's Secretariat, outlines the following key ranks:
- President
- Vice-President
- Prime Minister
- Governors of States (within their states)
- Former Presidents
- Deputy Prime Minister
- Chief Justice of India, Speaker of the Lok Sabha
- Cabinet Ministers of the Union, Chief Ministers of States (within their states), Former Prime Ministers, Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabha/Lok Sabha
- Holders of the Bharat Ratna decoration
- Ambassadors/High Commissioners, Chief Ministers/Governors (outside their states)
- Judges of the Supreme Court
- Chief Election Commissioner, Comptroller & Auditor General
- Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha; Deputy Chief Ministers; Deputy Speaker, Lok Sabha
BJP Responds to Allegations
In response, the BJP slammed the Congress for politicizing the event. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari posted on X, suggesting that Rahul Gandhi is not worried about sitting in the third row but is trying to deflect attention from being caught busy on his phone during the country's celebration of Brahmos in the defence line-up at Kartavya Path. This counter-argument adds another layer to the ongoing political discourse surrounding the Republic Day seating controversy.
Gogoi reiterated that this issue has happened repeatedly, and only Prime Minister Modi can answer why he disregards the respectable position of the LoP while calling Parliament a temple of democracy. The debate continues as both parties exchange accusations, with the Congress emphasizing protocol adherence and the BJP accusing the opposition of unnecessary politicization.
