Rahul Gandhi's viral rain-drenched image 'overshadowed' PM Narendra Modi on Independence Day? X erupts

The BJP on Friday hit out at Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for skipping the government’s Independence Day programme at the Red Fort. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Gandhi of insulting the nation and the armed forces with his absence.

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Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi marked Independence Day at Indira Bhavan in New Delhi instead of joining the government’s Independence Day programme at the Red Fort.

Rahul Gandhi was joined by senior Congress leaders and workers for a flag hoisting ceremony at the party headquarters. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge unfurled the Tricolour amidst rains. “Today, we remember all the freedom fighters whose sacrifices brought us this independence. It is our duty to protect it," the Congress said in a statement. The videos of Rahul Gandhi standing upright for the National Anthem despite the rain went viral on the internet. Most leaders, including Kharge, were helped with umbrellas, but Rahul Gandhi remained drenched for the entirety of the National Anthem.

Meanwhile, the viral video caused a heated debate on the internet as several pro-Congress handles claimed that the Raebareli "overshadowed" Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the 79th Independence Day. Despite the PM making tall claims and announcements from the Red Fort, it was Gandhi who won the internet, they claimed. "In just one hour, a video of Rahul Gandhi singing the National Anthem in the rain has received 6 million views and 1 million likes. While Modi’s boring speech from the Red Fort has not even received 1 million views after hours. Rahul Gandhi has overshadowed Modi on Independence Day," one such post on X said.

"This image of LoP Rahul Gandhi singing the National Anthem in the rain overshadowed the long and stale speech of PM Narendra Modi. In just 50 minutes, Rahul Gandhi’s video has received 855k likes and 6 million views on Instagram while Modi is struggling for even 1 million views," another user posted.

During the time of compiling this report, the livestreaming of PM Modi's address was watched by over 1.3 billion people on X alone and had garnered over 36K reactions.

Earlier, the BJP had said that Kharge and Gandhi's decision to skip the Red Fort event was shameful behaviour. "This freedom, achieved through the sacrifices of great freedom fighters, is a resolve to build an India where justice rests on the foundation of truth and equality, and every heart is filled with respect and brotherhood. It is the duty of all of us to protect the pride and honour of this precious heritage. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat!" Rahul Gandhi had earlier posted on X.