Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who was at Delhi’s Rajpath to attend the 69th Republic Day parade, was made to sit in the sixth row, closer to the public than to union ministers and senior BJP leaders.
According to sources in the Congress, it was the first time since independence that the Congress’ chief has not been assigned a seat in the front row.
Rahul was seen in the sixth row with Congress veteran Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Rajya Sabha. Security men of the 47-year-old Congress president crowded next to him, appearing to block the view of people sitting in the back.
However, BJP national president Amit Shah was seen in the front row with other senior leaders including party veteran LK Advani.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala posted what he called a telling image of “petty politics” by the Government.
