Congress upset over Kharge’s seat at Murmu’s ceremony

Several senior Opposition leaders on Monday wrote a letter to Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu alleging Leader of Opposition of the Upper House, Mallikarjun Kharge, was not given an appropriate seat during the swearing-in ceremony of President Droupadi Murmu.

Several senior Opposition leaders on Monday wrote a letter to Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu alleging Leader of Opposition of the Upper House, Mallikarjun Kharge, was not given an appropriate seat during the swearing-in ceremony of President Droupadi Murmu.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge speaks in the Rajya Sabha during Parliament's Monsoon Session. (PTI)

“... (Kharge) was made to sit in a seat not commensurate with the position he holds. We are writing to express our shock and protest at this deliberate disrespect shown to a very senior leader violating the warrant of precedence and not in accordance with protocol courtesies due to him,” the letter said.

The government dismissed the allegations.

“In the order of precedence, leader of opposition is after all Cabinet ministers. Strictly going by that, his seat comes in third row. But to respect seniority of Kharge ji, he was provided seat in first row itself,” Union minister Pralhad Joshi said.

When he objected to his seat as it was in corner, Joshi said staff present there requested him to come to centre but he refused.