'Govt advises foreign delegations not to meet LoP': Rahul's startling charge ahead of Putin visitÂ
New Delhi, Dec 4
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Thursday claimed that the Centre has been advising the foreign delegations against any meeting or discussion with the Leader of Opposition (LoP), a norm that was exercised during the previous governments, both during the UPA and the NDA.
The startling charge by Rahul Gandhi, while speaking to reporters outside Parliament, comes hours ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s two-day visit to India. His remarks are set to raise eyebrows in the political corridors and also set the stage for heated sparring between the BJP and Congress.
“Meetings with the LOP take place with delegations coming from outside. It has been a long-held tradition and has always been done this way,†he said, while citing instances during Manmohan Singh and Atal Bihari Vajpayee governments.
“But, this government has made a deliberate attempt to scrap that precedent. It tells foreign delegates coming from outside not to meet the LoP. This is being done every time, and lately this has become its policy,†he further stated.
When queried by scribes about the probable reason behind such a step, he said that the government was doing this out of “insecurityâ€.
Venting his ire over the Opposition being “left out and ignored†during visits by foreign delegations, he said that it’s not only the government that represents this country, but the Opposition also is the voice of this nation and its people.
He said that the Opposition also brings a perspective on national issues and hence its views should be given due respect.
“The government doesn't want us to meet with people from outside. Narendra Modi does not allow it, and the Foreign Ministry does not allow it. They are doing it out of insecurity,†he added.
The big charge comes just ahead of Vladimir Putin’s two-day tour of India, seen as the high-stakes visit amidst global spotlight and its huge geopolitical impact.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to arrive this evening. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host an informal dinner for Putin, thereby setting the tone for the formal summit on Friday.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Foreign policy should be above party politics. But if the opposition is being systematically sidelined during important visits, it weakens our democratic fabric. We are a diverse nation with multiple voices. 🤔
With President Putin visiting, the focus should be on strong India-Russia ties, not political mudslinging. Maybe the timing of this charge is deliberate to distract from the summit's agenda.
As someone following Indian politics, this is concerning. In mature democracies, the opposition is seen as a part of the nation's leadership. Silencing them on the international stage doesn't look good.
Whether it's Vajpayee ji or Manmohan Singh ji, the tradition was maintained. Breaking it sets a bad precedent. The LoP represents crores of Indians. Their perspective matters for a balanced foreign policy view.
Let's be practical. If every foreign delegate meets the opposition, it could lead to mixed signals. The elected government has the mandate to conduct foreign policy. There's a point to maintaining a single channel, especially during high-stakes visits like Putin's.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.