New Delhi, (BIJ News) Opposition parties lodged a protest on Monday over seating of Leader..
Opposition parties lodged a protest on Monday over seating of Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, and wrote a letter to Rajya Sabha Chairman Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu over the issue. Government responded saying Kharge was seated in the first row, even as 'order of precedence' he should have been seated in the third row.
Opposition parties including Congress, Shiv Sena, NCP, CPM, CPI and Trinamool Congress, wrote to Naidu, saying 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".
Government however denied the charge. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said there was no violation of protocol in the oath-taking ceremony of the President.
“In the order of precedence, leader of opposition is equivalent to a cabinet minister. Strictly going by that, his seat comes in the third row. But to respect seniority of Kharge ji, he was provided seat in the first row itself,” Joshi said.
He also said that when Kharge complained about being seated in the corner, the staff had offered him to move to a middle seat, but he did not move.
The Minister also said the Leader of Opposition in Upper House skipped the farewell ceremony of President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday.
Droupadi Murmu took oath on Monday as the 15th President of India at a ceremony in the historic Central Hall of Parliament in New Delhi.
The former Jharkhand governor, who was the ruling NDA's candidate, defeated the opposition candidate, ex-Union minister Yashwant Sinha, securing 64 percent of the total votes.
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