"Warning sign for democracy": KC Venugopal slams BJP amid R-Day seating arrangements row

New Delhi [India], January 27 : Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday criticised the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) over the seating arrangements for various political leaders at the Republic Day celebrations, saying that the ruling party has insulted the Indian Constitution by placing senior leaders from the opposition party in the back rows.
He said that it was a "warning sign" for democracy.
In a veiled attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Venugopal stated that the BJP chose to "act on the whim of their Supreme leader," and destroyed the ethics of the constitution by designating Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to the back rows despite them holding "cabinet ranks".
"On Republic Day itself, the BJP chose to destroy the ethos of a Republic and acted on the whim of their Supreme Leader. What they did yesterday by ignoring Constitutional protocol and insulting the Leaders of Opposition of India is a warning sign for our democracy. Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi enjoy Cabinet rank by virtue of their post, yet were relegated to the back-rows during the Republic Day event," he posted on X.
Further, the AICC general secretary said that historically, opposition leaders were accorded a place in the front row; this year, they were kept out of their rightful place. He slammed the Prime Minister, stating that he had violated the constitutional norms only because of his "petty" political outlook.
"This has shown the PM's political immaturity to the entire world - how he chose to violate Constitutional norms simply because of his petty political outlook. Historically, Leaders of Opposition were accorded a front row seat - fitting with the magnitude of their post. Today, the Opposition represents 65% of India's population, and yet it was kept away from its rightful place of prominence. It is not about the individuals, it is about the BJP's disdain for democracy and Constitutional traditions," he added in the post.
Earlier in the day, Kharge accused the BJP of "insulting" the constitution by making two opposition leaders sit in the third row during the Republic Day event.
He also clarified on the row surrounding the Assamese "Gamosa' that erupted during the reception hosted by President Draupadi Murmu after the Republic Day parade.
"He (Rahul Gandhi) had worn the 'Gamosa'. At the time he was eating, he folded it and kept it. They (BJP) are making an issue of it. They insult the Constitution by making two Opposition leaders sit in the third row (during the Republic Day parade). We also waited in line along with the state ministers to meet the President of India. They are purposely insulting the Opposition so much. I condemn it when they (the BJP) say that Congress is doing this to insult the North East. They are doing this only to insult Congress and for the upcoming elections," he said.
"I am the senior-most leader, how can they make me sit in the third row and alongside state ministers. You have insulted me, the Congress and the Constitution," he added.