Nationalist Congress Party (SP) president Sharad Pawar on Friday criticised the central government for its treatment of Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition, at the recent Independence Day celebrations. Pawar alleged that Gandhi was relegated to a seat in the last rows, which he claimed disrespects the significance of the LoP position.
Addressing party workers from the opposition bloc Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), Pawar said, “The Centre did not honour the post of Leader of the Opposition. The leader of the opposition was made to sit in the last rows.”
Pawar also took aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of undermining parliamentary norms. “The Prime Minister does not honour Parliament,” Pawar said, noting that Modi did not attend the Budget session. “Those in power care less about parliamentary procedures.”
The NCP chief emphasised the importance of respecting institutional roles, stating, “The Prime Minister is an institution, so is the Leader of the Opposition. The prestige of the PM’s post must be maintained. Similarly, the prestige of the LoP is equally important.”
Pawar criticised the current administration for not upholding democratic traditions, saying, “It cannot be expected that Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, or Rahul Gandhi’s prestige will be respected because those in power do not believe in democratic institutions.”
The Congress party had earlier condemned the seating arrangement, describing it as a display of Prime Minister Modi's “pettiness” and a lack of respect for democratic norms.
Pawar reminisced about his own experience as Leader of the Opposition, recalling that during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure, his seating at the Independence Day event was alongside cabinet ministers. He compared this to the current arrangement, saying, “When Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister, the then LoP Sushma Swaraj was given a seat allotted to cabinet ranks.”
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