Congress MP Rahul Gandhi attended the Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort on Thursday, becoming the first Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha in a decade to do so.
Dressed in a white kurta suit, Gandhi was seen alongside Indian Olympic medallists such as Manu Bhaker, Sarabjot Singh and PR Sreejesh.
Stars from India’s Olympic-bronze winning hockey team, including captain Harmanpreet Singh, were also photographed with the former Congress chief.
The Leader of Opposition post in Lok Sabha had been vacant from 2014 to 2024 due to the opposition parties’ insufficient number of MPs. Rahul Gandhi was appointed Leader of the Opposition on June 25, following the Congress party’s increase in MPs from 52 to 99 in the Lok Sabha elections.
Gandhi took to X to extend his Independence Day wishes to fellow Indians. “Happy Independence Day to all countrymen. For us, freedom is not just a word – it is our biggest protective shield, woven into constitutional and democratic values. This is the power of expression, the ability to speak the truth and the hope to fulfil dreams,” he tweeted, along with a video.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of the iconic Red Fort on the occasion of the 78th Independence Day. Wearing a Rajasthani turban, PM Modi spoke on several key issues, including crimes against women, unrest in Bangladesh, attacks on Hindus, the uniform civil code and India’s aim to host the Olympics in 2036.
This marked PM Modi’s 11th consecutive Independence Day address and his first speech of his third term. The Prime Minister’s speech also focused on the vision for a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047, with a commitment to significant reforms.
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