Congress leader Rahul Gandhi greets former President Ram Nath Kovind as Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant look on during the ‘At-Home’ reception on the occasion of the 77th Republic Day, in New Delhi, on January 26, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Monday (January 26, 2026) said the Constitution is every Indian’s greatest weapon and shield as his party asserted that its resolve to protect the Constitution is as “strong as a rock”.
Republic Day: Click here for LIVE updates, highlights from the celebrations on January 26, 2026
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, who unfurled the national flag at his official residence on the country’s 77th Republic Day, said the need of the hour is to stand firm in defending the principles and spirit of our Constitution.
“We must be prepared to make every necessary sacrifice to safeguard the Constitution. This will be our true tribute to the sacrifices of our ancestors,” Mr. Kharge said in a post on X.
“Our Constitution is the shield that protects all 140 crore Indians. Our resolve to protect it is as strong as a rock. Long live the Constitution! Jai Hind!” party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said in a post in Hindi on X.
Taking to to X to extend his Republic Day greetings to citizens, Mr. Gandhi, who attended the Republic Day parade at Kartavya Path, said: “Our Constitution is the greatest weapon for every Indian — it is our voice, the protective shield for our rights. Protecting the Constitution is protecting the Indian Republic, it is the truest tribute to the sacrifices of our freedom fighters. Jai Hind! Jai Samvidhan!”
Congress leaders miffed
But several Congress leaders criticised the Narendra Modi government for not offering front row seats to both the Leaders of Opposition (LoPs) in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the Republic Day parade.
Both Mr. Kharge and Mr. Gandhi, who attended the parade, were seen seated in the third row. Towards the fag end of the event before the national anthem was being played, Mr. Kharge was seen seated next to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and former Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar in the front row.
“This shows the mindset of the government, particularly of [Narendra] Modi ji and [Home Minister] Amit Shah and the level to which they have stooped. Until 2014, LoPs, be it Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley or even L.K. Advani, who was not the LoP, were seated in the front row,” Congress whip in Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore said.
His party colleague and Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha shared the photo on X of both LoPs occuping a third row seat behind Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and said: “This is sheer lack of protocol & grace!! May be too much to expect in present times!! #RahulGandhi #Khargeji”.
“This only reveals the frustration of a government plagued by an inferiority complex,” Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala added, sharing the same photos of the LoPs.
Published – January 26, 2026 09:35 pm IST
