Sachin Pilot joins AICC flag hoisting on Independence Day
Synopsis
Congress General Secretary Sachin Pilot attended the AICC's Independence Day flag-hoisting at Indira Bhawan, New Delhi on 15 August 2026, where party president Kharge, CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and LoP Rahul Gandhi pledged to defend democracy and uphold constitutional values.
Key Takeaways
Sachin Pilot attended the AICC Independence Day flag-hoisting ceremony at Indira Bhawan, New Delhi on 15 August 2026 .
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge , CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi , and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were all present.
The leadership collectively reaffirmed commitment to protecting democracy and strengthening constitutional values.
Pilot called on citizens to resolve to maintain national unity, integrity, and sovereignty.
The AICC has held an annual flag-hoisting at its headquarters every 15 August since 1947 .
At Indira Bhawan in New Delhi on 15 August 2026, the Indian National Congress marked Independence Day with a flag-hoisting ceremony that brought together the party's top leadership — and Congress leader Sachin Pilot was among those who attended, renewing a pledge to protect democracy and strengthen constitutional values.
Congress leadership gathers at Indira Bhawan
The All India Congress Committee organised the annual flag-hoisting at its headquarters, Indira Bhawan, as it has done every 15 August since Independence. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were all present — a rare gathering of the party's three most senior figures on a single platform.
Pilot, who serves as AICC General Secretary and Chhattisgarh in-charge, shared that the leaders collectively reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding democracy and reinforcing constitutional principles — a message the party has consistently carried into its Independence Day addresses.
The pledge: unity, sovereignty, and national progress
In his post, Pilot called on fellow citizens to resolve — on this day — to keep the country's unity, integrity, and sovereignty intact, and to contribute to national progress. The sentiment echoes a broader pattern in which opposition parties use the Independence Day platform to stake their own claim to patriotic and constitutional discourse alongside the ruling establishment's official events.
Congress's annual flag-hoisting at its headquarters is one of Indian politics' oldest rituals, observed continuously since 1947. The presence of Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi together signals the party's intent to project unity heading into the next parliamentary session.
Point of View
Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi — at a single Independence Day platform is a deliberate projection of party unity at a moment when the opposition's cohesion is under constant scrutiny. The constitutional-values framing is a recurring counter-narrative to the ruling establishment, positioning the INC as the guardian of foundational democratic principles. Pilot's visible participation, as a general secretary with a state charge, reinforces the party's effort to present a unified, multi-generational front. The messaging sets the tone Congress intends to carry into the next parliamentary session.
NationPress
15 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did the Congress Independence Day flag hoisting take place in 2026?
The AICC flag-hoisting ceremony was held at Indira Bhawan , the Congress party headquarters in New Delhi , on 15 August 2026 .
Who attended the AICC Independence Day event with Sachin Pilot?
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge , CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi , and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were among the senior leaders present at the ceremony.
What did Congress leaders pledge on Independence Day 2026?
The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to protecting democracy, strengthening constitutional values, and maintaining national unity, integrity, and sovereignty.
What is Sachin Pilot's current role in the Congress party?
Sachin Pilot is the AICC General Secretary and Chhattisgarh in-charge. He previously served as Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan.
Does Congress hold an Independence Day event every year?
Yes. The All India Congress Committee has organised an annual flag-hoisting ceremony at its headquarters every 15 August since India's Independence in 1947 .
