Congress miffed after Rahul Gandhi assigned sixth-row in R-Day parade

Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s designated seat for the Republic Day Parade in the sixth row has prompted an angry reaction from his party that accused the government of setting aside tradition and indulging in “cheap politics”. Rahul was seated near Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said the Modi government’s “cheap politics” was in display when it broke tradition and denied Rahul a front-row seat. Congress sources said the party presidents had always been seated in the front row at the Republic Day Parade.

“Where did Rajnath Singh ji and Nitin Gadkari ji sit as BJP chiefs at the Republic Day events during the Congress-led UPA government?” BJP National Spokesperson Anil Baluni asked rhetorically. He said that BJP leaders were not even given seats in the VIP area during the Conngress era.

“But, unlike the Congress, the BJP does not stoop so low and believes in a healthy democracy,” Baluni said.