Kharge’s Empty Chair At Red Fort & Presence At Congress HQ; Glad He Recovered Immediately, Says BJP

New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge absence during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation on 77th Independence Day at Red Fort sparked political exchange on Tuesday.

The seat reserved for Kharge, with his name prominently displayed, remained unoccupied. He instead sent out a recorded message in which he paid tributes to freedom icons and underlined contribution of every Prime Minister to the progress of the nation. “Along with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, every PM thought about the nation and took many steps for development. It is with pain that I say that today democracy, Constitution and autonomous bodies are under serious threat. New tools are being used to stifle the voice of the opposition. Not only are there CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax raids, the Election Commission is also being weakened. Opposition MPs are being muzzled, suspended, mics are being muted, speeches are being expunged…”

Kharge, however, was present at the Independence Day celebration at the Congress headquarters where he gave a speech. “The security is so tight that they don’t let anyone else leave before the PM leaves…I thought that I will not be able to reach here on time…I thought it better to not go there to the security situation and lack of time,” he told reporters later.

Reacting to his absence at Red Fort, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said: “Sources were saying Kharge ji was unwell hence couldn’t come for Independence Day programme but I am m glad he recovered immediately and started giving speech at AICC HQ where he was able to do flag hoisting.”

Congress leader Rajiv Shukla defended him and said that he was busy in the Independence day programmes of the party at the party office.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore also tweeted: “When Lok Sabha Opposition leader suspended..When MPs are suspended for indefinite period…When Opposition leaders speeches expunged if we mention Adani .When Mikes are switched off ..What’s else we can do ? We celebrate Independence Day with people.”