Putin's India visit: Rahul Gandhi accuses Centre of not following "tradition" says, "Govt doesn't wants us to meet"

Ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's arrival in New Delhi on Thursday evening, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, accused the Central Government of not following the "tradition" of allowing foreign dignitaries to meet the Leader of the Opposition. 

While speaking to the media in the Parliament complex, he expressed displeasure over the Modi-led government, alleging that the Centre tells foreign dignitaries not to meet the Leader of the Opposition due to its "insecurity." 

Rahul stated, "Generally, the tradition has been that whoever visits India, the LoP used to have a meeting. It used to happen during the Vajpayee government and the Manmohan Singh government. But this is not the case now. Whenever I visit abroad, they suggest that those people shouldn't meet the LoP. People told us we have been informed not to meet the LoP. 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." 

Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor also supported Rahul Gandhi's concern about the LoP being barred from meeting foreign dignitaries under the Modi government, saying that the Centre should respond. 

Tharoor stated that foreign leaders should be free to meet every side of a democracy, adding that India needs to retain "sovereign autonomy" in managing relations with the US, Russia, and China. 

Waynad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also flagged Rahul Gandhi's concern, saying, "It's 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. God knows what they are scared of...In a democracy, everyone should be able to put forward their opinions, discussions must be held, and appropriate action must be taken...The government is insecure, and this decision is a reflection of that...What will they get by breaking and reversing this protocol? This is their insecurity...The image of democracy is tarnished in the world."