During the funeral of Dr Manmohan Singh, the govt made an exception to protocol to allow Congress netas Sonia Gandhi and her daughter Priyanka Gandhi to lay wreaths on the former PM’s body. As per the rules laid down, it is the members of immediate family of the departed leader who gets precedence in wreath laying ceremony. They also have the privilege to recommend names from outside the family for inclusion in the list of those who can lay wreaths before the state ceremony begins. No additions are to be made during ceremony.
It appears that Sonia and Priyanka’s names did not figure in the original list submitted to protocol officials. However, the officials made an unusual departure from the protocol to accommodate the duo. Rahul Gandhi and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge were there in their capacities as the LoP in LS and RS, respectively.
