Independence Day Celebration 2025: India celebrated its 79th Independence Day on August 15, 2025, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisting the tricolour at the Red Fort and greeting citizens across the nation. Amid the celebrations, attention turned to the opposition leaders but neither Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, nor Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, attended the historic event.

This is the first time since Independence that both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha opposition leaders were absent from the main Independence Day function. When asked about the absence, Congress spokesperson Dr. Ajay Upadhyay provided an explanation, as reported by Aaj Tak.

Why Were Rahul Gandhi, Kharge Not Present At Red Fort? 

Congress leader Ajay Upadhyay highlighted that the positions of Leader of Opposition in both houses carry the status of a Cabinet Minister and traditionally come with front-row seating, right after the Prime Minister. “This practice has been followed from Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh, regardless of which party was in power,” he said.

He added, “Whichever party’s leader was in opposition, they have always been seated in the front row. But when Rahul Gandhi became the Leader of Opposition, he was made to sit in the last row during last year’s Independence Day celebration.”

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Upadhyay stressed that the absence of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge is about protecting the dignity of constitutional posts, not individual leaders. “This is neither about Rahul Gandhi nor Mallikarjun Kharge. Any such treatment of a constitutional postholder violates the dignity of the Constitution,” he said. “To maintain decorum, both leaders celebrated the national festival and waved the national flag. If the Prime Minister wants to politicise this, it should not be politicised.”

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In response, BJP spokesperson RP Singh asked, “Did you see where the seats were set up today?”. Similarly, BJP spokesperson, Shahzad Poonawala, said that the Leader of Opposition holds a constitutional post and it is their duty to attend such events.