Kharge, Rahul Gandhi Skip Independence Day Event For Second Year

India celebrates Independence Day every year on August 15.

The Prime Minister gives a speech at a big, famous fort called the Red Fort, and many important leaders are invited.

Two important Congress party leaders, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, did not go this year.

It is the second year in a row that they stayed away.

People say they skipped because they were worried about where they would have to sit.

Last year, Rahul Gandhi went but had to sit near the back, even though important opposition leaders usually sit in the front row.

The Congress said that was an insult, but the Defence Ministry said the seats were changed to make room for Olympic athletes.

This year, Kharge was given a seat in the second or third row, which party leaders said was inconvenient.

The ruling party's leaders called the absence 'childish' and questioned why a leader of the opposition would skip a national ceremony.

Prime Minister Modi used his speech to talk about how India's economy has grown a lot.