Congress Leaders Boycott 80th Independence Day Ceremony at Red Fort
Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge skipped India's 80th Independence Day celebrations, marking the second consecutive year of boycotts over seating protocol disputes.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day ceremony at the Red Fort on August 15, 2026. This marks the second consecutive year these senior leaders have avoided the event led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The boycott stems from a dispute over seating protocols during the 2024 ceremony, where Gandhi was placed in the fifth or second-last row despite his Cabinet rank. The Congress party described the arrangement as "pettiness" and an insult to the office, while the Ministry of Defence defended the decision, stating the layout was modified to accommodate Olympians.
The absence occurs amid strained relations between the government and the Opposition following a low-productivity Monsoon Session of Parliament. These tensions were further evidenced when the Congress, Trinamool Congress, and Samajwadi Party boycotted a customary tea hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the session adjourned sine die.
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