Govt tells visiting dignitaries not to meet LoP; it’s their insecurity: Rahul ahead of Putin’s visit

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government prevents visiting foreign dignitaries from meeting the Leader of the Opposition, citing “insecurity.” His remarks came ahead of Russian President Putin’s India visit, during which Modi-Putin discussions will focus on defense and trade

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the government tells visiting foreign dignitaries not to meet the Leader of the Opposition due to its “insecurity”. Gandhi’s remarks came hours ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to India.

The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said it is a tradition that visiting foreign dignitaries meet the LoP but Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs were not following this norm.

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“Normally the tradition is that those who come from abroad have a meeting with the LoP. This used to happen during (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee ji’s time, Manmohan Singh ji’s time, it has been a tradition but what happens these days is that when foreign dignitaries come and when I go abroad, the government suggests to them to not meet the LoP,” Gandhi told reporters in Parliament House complex.

“This is their policy, they do this every time. They do it when I go abroad and when people come here. We get the message that they have been told that the government has said ‘not to meet you’,” the former Congress president.

Highlighting the importance of such meetings, he said the LoP gives another perspective.

“We also represent India, only the government does not represent India. The government does not want that opposition leaders to meet foreign leaders. This is a tradition (visiting foreign dignitaries meeting LoP), a norm, but Modi ji does not follow this norm, foreign ministry does not follow this norm,” Gandhi said without naming Putin.

Asked why the government was doing so, he said, “It is their insecurity”. Putin will arrive here this evening for a summit meeting with Prime Minister Modi.

Boosting defence ties, insulating India-Russia trade from external pressure and exploring cooperation in small modular reactors are set to be the focus of the summit meeting between Modi and Putin on Friday that is expected to be closely watched by Western capitals.