The Bharatiya Janata Party tore into Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge for skipping the 79th Independence Day event. The celebrations were held at the Red Fort in New Delhi. PM Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag and delivered the longest speech in history on I-Day. It was 103 minutes long, breaking his own record of delivering 98 98-minute speech in 2024.
The BJP criticized the leaders of the opposition on their ‘shameful behavior’. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla posted on social media platform X, “Congress spokesperson in TV debate with me just now confirmed that ‘LoP’ Rahul Gandhi skipped 15th August Program at Red Fort. This was a national celebration but sadly Lover of Pakistan Rahul Gandhi, in Modi virodh does Desh & Sena Virodh! Shameful behavior. Is this Sanvidhan and Sena ka Samman?”
Congress spokesperson in tv debate with me just now confirmed that “LoP” Rahul Gandhi skipped 15th August Program at Red Fort
This was a national celebration but sadly Lover of Pakistan Rahul Gandhi – in Modi virodh does Desh & Sena Virodh!
Shameful behaviour
Is this…
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) August 15, 2025
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Where did Rahul Gandhi Celebrate the I-Day?
The Congress leader attended the celebrations of the 79th Independence Day at Delhi’s Indira Bhavan. He joined the event with Congress workers and other senior leaders for a flag hoisting ceremony.
हम लोकतंत्र और संविधान के प्रति संकल्पित हैं, इसकी रक्षा करते रहेंगे। pic.twitter.com/Z73th10t5a
— Congress (@INCIndia) August 15, 2025
Mallikarjun Kharge led the unfurling of the national flag at the venue, in the presence of other party members. Both the leaders paid respect to the Indian freedom fighters and the nation.
Rahul Gandhi expressed his gratitude to them, saying, “Heartfelt Independence Day greetings to all countrymen. This freedom, achieved through the sacrifices of great freedom fighters, is a resolve to build an India where justice rests on the foundation of truth and equality, and every heart is filled with respect and brotherhood. It is the duty of all of us to protect the pride and honor of this precious heritage. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!”
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Last Year’s Red Fort Seating Controversy
In 2024, Rahul Gandhi was seated in the fifth row of the VIP section on the 78th Independence Day during PM Modi’s speech.
It became a political highlight because, according to the protocol, the leader of the opposition is supposed to be placed in the front row with senior ministers. However, the officials explained that the front row seats were assigned to Olympic medal winners.
