NEW DELHI: Nationalist Congress Party (NCP-SP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Friday criticised the Centre for not respecting the position of leader of the opposition, a day after Rahul Gandhi was not allotted a front-row seat at the Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony at Red Fort.
“The Centre did not honour the post of leader of opposition,” said Pawar while addressing Maha Vikas Aghadi party workers.
“The leader of opposition was made to sit in the back row,” he added.
‘LoP’s prestige equally important’
According to the NCP (SP) chief, the Prime Minister is an institution, so is the leader of the opposition.
Pawar emphasised that the prestige of the Prime Minister’s position must be maintained, and similarly, the dignity of the leader of the opposition is equally important.
‘Threat to Constitution not over’
The NCP (SP) chief said that even though the BJP didn’t secure a majority in the Lok Sabha elections, the threat to the Constitution still persists.
Pawar recalled that he was seated alongside cabinet ministers at the Independence Day event when he was leader of the opposition during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure.
He also mentioned that when Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister, then-leader of the opposition Sushma Swaraj was given a seat designated for cabinet ranks.
“The Centre did not honour the post of leader of opposition,” said Pawar while addressing Maha Vikas Aghadi party workers.
“The leader of opposition was made to sit in the back row,” he added.
‘LoP’s prestige equally important’
According to the NCP (SP) chief, the Prime Minister is an institution, so is the leader of the opposition.
Pawar emphasised that the prestige of the Prime Minister’s position must be maintained, and similarly, the dignity of the leader of the opposition is equally important.
‘Threat to Constitution not over’
The NCP (SP) chief said that even though the BJP didn’t secure a majority in the Lok Sabha elections, the threat to the Constitution still persists.
Pawar recalled that he was seated alongside cabinet ministers at the Independence Day event when he was leader of the opposition during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure.
He also mentioned that when Manmohan Singh was Prime Minister, then-leader of the opposition Sushma Swaraj was given a seat designated for cabinet ranks.
