New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday criticised Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for not attending the official Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort, accusing him of disrespecting the nation, its armed forces, and the Constitution.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Gandhi’s absence from the August 15 event was “an insult to the army, the Constitution, the country’s military operations, and the martyrs.” He further claimed the Congress leader had “gone against Modi, against the country, and against the Constitution” by skipping the national ceremony.
“This is the national day of the country, not the birthday of a person or the programme of a single party,” Poonawalla said, adding, “The Congress has proved it is not the Indian National Congress, but the Islamabad National Congress or the Italian National Congress.”
He also referred to the Red Fort honours for Operation Sindoor and the armed forces, alleging that “going against the army has become a common thing for Congress” and that Rahul Gandhi “does not even consider India a nation.”
Rahul Gandhi, however, marked Independence Day at Indira Bhavan in Delhi, where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hoisted the national flag in the presence of party leaders and workers from across the capital. Despite rain, Gandhi attended the event, with videos shared by the party showing him greeting supporters and participating in the celebrations.
In a statement, the Congress said, “Today, we remember all the freedom fighters whose sacrifices brought us this independence. It is our duty to protect it.”
