New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Thursday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Army chief General Manoj Pande and Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan seated rows behind Reliance Industries Limited Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Shah Rukh Khan at Sunday’s swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Some other leaders of the Congress, including its general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh, also criticised the seating order.
The business magnate and his son, Anant Ambani, as well as the Bollywood superstar and his manager, Pooja Dadlani, were seated in the second row, just behind the prominent leaders of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition.
“In securing the nation, making sacrifices, on the frontlines — Indian armed forces. But in Narendra Modi’s priority list — his billionaire friends with tempo travellers,” Rahul posted on his public WhatsApp channel, which has 6.9 million followers.
Rahul’s reference to “tempo travellers” targeted Modi’s allegation during the Lok Sabha campaign that the Adani and Ambani business houses were funding the Congress. “How many sacks of black money has he received? What deal has been struck? Is money reaching the Congress in tempos?” Modi said at an 8 May BJP rally in Telangana.
The BJP did not respond to requests for a comment on the issue.
During the 2019 swearing-in ceremony of Modi, then chief of army staff General Bipin Rawat was seated in the second row, while Ambani, who was also present on the occasion, sat in the front row.
Since 2014, the swearing-in has been on the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Before Modi, only Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Chandrashekhar took oath in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, with all others sworn in at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Durbar Hall.
Jairam Ramesh criticised the seating arrangement on X by posting a photo of General Pande and General Chauhan seated behind the Ambanis and Khan, seen receiving greetings from Kailash Kher.
Visuals from the एक तिहाई Pradhan Mantri’s swearing in.
In the 3rd row, the CMs of Nagaland, Tripura, Sikkim and Goa.
In the 2nd row, the Ambanis and Shahrukh Khan. pic.twitter.com/maf6tfoOBU
— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 13, 2024
In the front row were the BJP leaders and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the only leader from the Opposition who attended the 9 June ceremony. On the third row, the chief ministers of the BJP-ruled states were seated.
“Her Excellency President And PM Sir !! This is not acceptable!!,” Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha also posted on X.
H.E President And PM Sir !! This is not acceptable!! Event is third term swearing in ceremony of Union Cabinet.
CDS and COAS gets seats 3 row behind SRK even jr Ambani. Imagine the protocols we are in.
Enlarge and watch with green circle 🟢 sitting in uniform. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/hpEg6SWvEb— Vivek Tankha (@VTankha) June 12, 2024
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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