Congress vs BJP over Rahul Gandhis 3rd row seat during Republic Day parade - But what does protocol say?

A political row erupted on Monday after the Congress accused the Centre of “insulting” the Leaders of Opposition (LoPs) over the seating arrangement at the Republic Day parade. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, has hit back at the allegations.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore questioned this "protocol mess-up," while sharing a photograph of the 2014 Republic Day Parade, when LK Advani was given a seat in the front row in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government.

"This was in 2014--look at where LK Advani ji was seated then. Why this protocol mess-up now? Is it because Modi and Shah want to insult Kharge ji and Rahul ji? Leaders of the Opposition cannot be insulted like this, especially on Republic Day," Manickam Tagore said in a post on X.