Senior leader Rao Inderjit raises row over absence of local representatives
Gurugram — Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, a six-time Lok Sabha member from Gurugram, publicly confronted BJP national president Nitin Nabin at a state-level Partition remembrance event here on Friday, questioning why the local MP and legislators from the constituency were not invited to the programme held in their area.
The function, the Vibhajan Vibhishika Smriti Diwas, took place at Maharana Pratap Swarn Jayanti Park in Sector 29 and had Nabin as the chief guest. From the stage, Rao Inderjit asked whether it was proper for the party president to attend a programme in Gurugram if elected representatives from the constituency had been left out.
“I want to ask the party president if they cannot invite the MP of the constituency where the programme is being held, is it right for him to come here?” Singh said.
Rao Inderjit also posed rhetorical comparisons to illustrate his point, asking whether the same omission would have occurred had the event been in Panipat or Karnal, referencing the names of local leaders in those areas.
Protocol, invitation lists and a walkout
According to Rao Inderjit, his name was omitted from the initial invitation cards and was added only after the intervention of Haryana BJP president Dr Archana Gupta. He said his name was also missing from the list of speakers, and cited ongoing "ignorance of protocol and seniority" as the reason he chose to walk out of the programme.
- Rao Inderjit criticised organisers for not inviting the constituency's representatives to an event held on their home turf.
- He said his name was included on invitation cards only after Dr Archana Gupta intervened, and that he was not on the speakers’ list.
- The exchange placed Nitin Nabin in an uncomfortable position while he was the chief guest at the function.
National remarks at the function
Addressing the gathering, Nitin Nabin spoke on the significance of the observance, stating that more than 1.5 crore families were displaced and over 30 lakh people died during Partition. He blamed the Congress and the Nehru-Gandhi family for the division of India, and said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's observance of Partition Remembrance Day was intended to help younger generations understand the tragedy.
| Point mentioned by Nitin Nabin | Figure/Claim |
|---|---|
| Families displaced during Partition | 1.5 crore |
| People who lost their lives | 30 lakh |
Nabin characterised the remembrance day as a moment to honour those who died and the families who suffered displacement, and alleged that the mindset of those who once divided the country for political power had not changed and was now being used to "divide society".
Local consequences and context
The public exchange at a high-profile event in Gurugram highlights tensions within party ranks over protocol and local representation. Rao Inderjit’s decision to raise the matter from the dais and subsequently leave the programme underscores frictions around seniority and recognition for local leaders when national leaders attend events in their constituencies.
While the immediate dispute centres on invitations and the speakers’ list at a single event, such incidents can affect intra-party relations and public perceptions of how local representatives are consulted or included when national leaders make public appearances in their areas.
No further official responses from the local MP, the MP’s office or event organisers were included in the report. The facts in this account are based on statements made at the event and on the remarks delivered by the national president while on the podium.
