The 77th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi's Red Fort were marked by controversy as Congress National President and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjuna Kharge, chose to boycott the event. This decision sparked a heated debate within the political landscape, highlighting the ongoing rivalry between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party.
Kharge's absence from the event was glaring, with the seat reserved for him remaining empty during the ceremony. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and other prominent figures participated, making Kharge's boycott a focal point of discussions. Instead of attending the Red Fort event, Kharge hoisted the national flag at his residence and later joined the Independence Day function at the Congress headquarters.
The BJP seized the opportunity to criticize the Congress, interpreting Kharge's absence as a reflection of the party's mindset. Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Anurag Thakur, claimed that the Congress was displaying a distinct mentality now that it was in opposition, compared to when it was in power. This incident highlighted the stark differences between the two parties' approaches to governance and their behavior in times of political ascendancy or decline.
Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's IT department, took to social media to express his views. He accused the Congress of failing to recognize the significance of the Prime Minister's address during the Red Fort ceremony. Malviya argued that the Congress's decision to ignore this event showcased their inability to transcend family-centered politics and adapt to a broader perspective.
In response, Kharge cited health reasons for his absence from the Red Fort event and the Congress headquarters function. He claimed to have an eye problem that prevented his participation and highlighted the logistical challenge of leaving the Congress headquarters during the address. This explanation, however, did little to quell the controversy surrounding his absence.
Senior Congress leader Manikam Thakur defended the party's stance, emphasizing that even without participating in the official Red Fort ceremony, the Congress celebrated Independence Day with the people. He conveyed the sentiment that the essence of the day lay in connecting with citizens and sharing in their celebrations.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera pointed out the irony in the BJP's criticism. Khera questioned the Prime Minister's awareness of the road arrangements that limited his ability to attend the Congress headquarters event after the Red Fort ceremony. This raised broader questions about the freedom of political parties to hoist the national flag at their own headquarters as a means of celebrating Independence Day.
The controversy surrounding Mallikarjuna Kharge's boycott of the Independence Day celebrations sheds light on the deep-rooted ideological divide between the ruling party and the opposition. It underscores how political actions, even those seemingly trivial, can become symbolic battlegrounds for parties to showcase their values, priorities, and strategies. As India's political landscape evolves, such incidents continue to shape public perception of the political players and their commitment to the nation's core values.