President Droupadi Murmu, Speaker Om Birla, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition at the Constitution Day celebrations in Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi disrespected President, alleges BJP, shares Parliament videos

"Cheap mentality," BJP's Amit Malviya tweeted, accusing Congress's Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the President at the Constitution Day event in Parliament.

by · India Today

In Short

  • BJP's Amit Malviya says President kept standing, 'prince' sat down
  • Alleges Rahul Gandhi can’t hold attention for even 50 seconds during national anthem
  • Claims he left stage without greeting President Draupadi Murmu

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was accused by the BJP of disrespecting President Droupadi Murmu by not greeting her at Constitution Day celebrations in Parliament on Tuesday. Sharing videos, BJP's Amit Malviya also alleged that the Congress leader was distracted during the national anthem.

Malviya shared two videos from the event, one allegedly showing Gandhi looking sideways while other leaders either looked straight ahead or downwards as the national anthem was played.

Another video shows Gandhi attempting to sit while the President and other leaders were still standing. The video also shows Gandhi leaving the stage without greeting President Murmu.

"Rahul Gandhi can’t hold his attention for even 50 seconds, and he had the audacity to make an absolutely distasteful comment on the President of the United States," Malviya said, referring to the Congress leader's earlier comments saying Joe Biden suffers from memory loss.

Rahul Gandhi disrespected President, alleges BJP, shares Parliament videos

As the national anthem concluded, Rahul Gandhi, positioned towards the edge of the stage, was seen attempting to step down, while other leaders greeted President Murmu.

Sharing the second video, Malviya said, "Congress always disrespects President Smt Droupadi Murmu ji, because she is the first Tribal woman to occupy the highest office of the land. Rahul Gandhi and family despise SC, ST and OBCs. It shows".

Rahul Gandhi's alleged actions sparked an online debate as well. Some speculated that his perceived behaviour stemmed from bias against the President due to her tribal background. Others labelled it arrogance, while some linked it to his disappointment following the Congress's defeat in the Maharashtra elections.

Neither Rahul Gandhi nor other Congress leaders have responded to the BJP's allegations.