# Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge Skip Independence Day Event for Second Year Running, Sparking Political Row

> BJP has slammed Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge over their absence from the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort, prompting a sharp counter-reaction from Congress.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Politics · **Published:** 2026-08-15 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/politics/svatntrata-divasa-samaroha-men-lagatara-dusare-sala-anupasthita-rahe-rahul-gandhi-aura-mallikarjun-kharge-bjp-aura-congress-men-ch-16961 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Red Fort, Independence Day, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, BJP, Congress, Narendra Modi, Politics

Political tensions escalated following the official Independence Day ceremony at the historic Red Fort, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation. Noticeable by their absence from the frontlines of the national celebration were key opposition figures Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Mallikarjun Kharge, the Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. This marks the second consecutive year that both constitutional post-holders have chosen to skip the event, instantly turning their non-attendance into a major political flashpoint.

## BJP Calls Absence an Insult to National Celebrations
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party launched a strong attack against the Congress leadership over their decision to stay away from the main event. Representatives of the BJP emphasized that the Independence Day gathering transcends political divides and that missing such a historic ceremony amounts to a direct insult to the nation and its founding spirit. Given that both leaders hold pivotal constitutional roles in Parliament, the party argued that avoiding the Red Fort proceedings for two consecutive years sets an unacceptable precedent.

## Seating Arrangement and Counter-Attack by Congress
Responding to the criticism, Congress leader Pawan Khera pushed back firmly against the ruling party, stating that the BJP habitually searches for perceived insults in every matter. Meanwhile, internal party inputs revealed that Mallikarjun Kharge had been assigned a seat in the second or third row at the venue, making navigation inconvenient for him. Furthermore, Kharge was scheduled to preside over the official tricolor unfurling ceremony at the Congress party headquarters later in the morning.

## Debate Over Accessibility and Parliamentary Routine
The explanation offered regarding seating accessibility was met with further skepticism from the BJP. Party leaders questioned how navigating the Red Fort grounds presented a hurdle for Kharge when he routinely climbs the stairs in Parliament during daily business. As the official independence ceremonies wrapped up, the sharp exchange underlined how even solemn national events frequently become arenas for intense political contestation between rival parties.

## What this means for you
- **Across India:** The ongoing controversy highlights the persistent political divide between the ruling party and the opposition even during major national milestones.
- **Impact on Parliamentary Norms:** The decision of key constitutional post-holders to attend or skip national functions shapes public perception and political discourse.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which key leaders did not attend the Independence Day event at Red Fort?
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress President as well as Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge did not attend the ceremony.

### 2. What was the BJP's reaction to the absence of the opposition leaders?
The BJP criticized the absence of both Congress leaders, calling it an insult to the nation and the national festival.

### 3. How did the Congress respond to the BJP's allegations?
Congress leader Pawan Khera responded by stating that the BJP sees insult in everything.

### 4. What reason was given for Mallikarjun Kharge not attending the event at Red Fort?
According to sources, Kharge was allotted a seat in the second or third row which was inconvenient to reach, and he also had to hoist the tricolor at Congress headquarters.

### 5. Is this the first time Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have skipped this event?
No, this is the second consecutive year that both Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were absent from the Independence Day function at Red Fort.

---
_TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. Machine-readable view; canonical HTML at the URL above._