Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the Union government has been discouraging visiting foreign dignitaries from meeting him, calling the move a departure from democratic convention and a sign of “insecurity,” just hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin began his two-day visit to India.
Speaking to reporters in Parliament, Gandhi said it had long been customary for foreign leaders to meet the LoP, a practice followed under both the Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh governments.
Why Is PM Modi Scared of LoP Rahul Gandhi Meeting Foreign Leaders?
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“But now, when I travel abroad or when dignitaries visit India, the government tells them not to meet me,” he said. Such meetings, he said, provide visiting leaders with “another perspective,” noting, “We also represent India.”
When asked why the government was discouraging such interactions, he replied, “It is their insecurity.”
Echoing his criticism, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said democratic protocol required that foreign dignitaries meet the LoP.
“The government wants to capture everything, silence other voices, and is breaking established protocols. This reflects insecurity,” she said.
Congress general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal also criticised the alleged practice, calling meetings between foreign leaders and the Opposition a “time-tested democratic tradition” that strengthens India’s diplomatic engagement.
“Those who only wish to speak their own Mann ki Baat have no regard for these traditions,” he wrote on X.
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