Rahul Gandhi accuses government of breaking tradition by excluding Opposition from foreign delegate meetings

New Delhi (India) December 4: Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, on Thursday, accused the ruling party of systematically excluding Opposition leaders from meeting with international dignitaries. This has been an accepted practice that previous governments upheld, but has been abandoned by the current government.

Rahul Gandhi highlights breach of established diplomatic protocol

Mr Gandhi was speaking ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi, where he stated that it has been a parliamentary tradition for Opposition leaders to meet with Foreign Delegates.

"It used to happen during the governments of Vajpayee ji and Manmohan Singh ji. This has been a tradition. But these days, when foreign dignitaries visit or when I travel abroad, the government advises them not to meet the LoP. We, too, represent India. It is not just the government. Generally, the tradition has been that whoever visits India, the LoP used to have a meeting," Gandhi said.

Tradition of Opposition leaders meeting foreign dignitaries ignored by current government

He explained how the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Ministry routinely direct Foreign Delegations to avoid meeting with Opposition Members, asserting that this avenue is closed because of "insecurity" on the part of those in power. 

The view expressed by Mr Gandhi is that the ruling party does not want the Leader of the Opposition to be able to provide an alternate viewpoint on the position taken by India.

He said, “LoP provides a second perspective; we also represent India, but the government doesn't want us to meet foreign dignitaries. PM Modi and the foreign ministry do not follow this now because of insecurity."

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra calls government’s reversal of protocol "weird"

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, MP from Wayanad, echoed the sentiments expressed by Mr Gandhi, by stating that it is "weird." According to her, the ruling party does not wish to permit any individual to participate in any form of dissent or express an opinion on any subject.

“It is very weird. There is a protocol, and all visiting dignitaries meet the LoP. The protocol is being reversed by the government and all their policies are based on this. They don't want anyone to raise their voice. They don't want to listen to any other opinion. They should abide by the protocols of a democracy” she said.

Putin's visit focuses on defence and bilateral cooperation amid US tension

Russian President Putin will be arriving in New Delhi this evening as a result of an invitation extended to him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the annual India-Russia summit. 

Reports from government sources indicate that the Russian President will have a busy schedule while in India, which includes a dinner with P.M. Modi, and ceremonies at Raj Ghat, Bharat Mandapam and Hyderabad House as well as a banquet that will be hosted by President Droupadi Murmu.

The discussions will centre on the strengthening of Defence Co-operation between India and Russia, protecting Indian-Russian trade from foreign economic interference, and identifying opportunities for bilateral cooperation in the development of small modular nuclear reactors, within the context of a significant declining relationship between the US and India.