NEW DELHI DEC,04— Hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin lands in New Delhi for the 23rd India–Russia Summit, former Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, sharply criticised the ruling dispensation, claiming the government is intentionally preventing foreign dignitaries from meeting Opposition leaders.
Addressing reporters at the Parliament complex, Rahul Gandhi said the practice of allowing visiting world leaders to meet the Opposition leader was a norm followed during the tenures of former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh — a tradition that, according to him, has been deliberately broken by the present government citing “insecurity.”
He added: “We also represent India, and offer a second perspective — but they don’t want dignitaries to meet the LoP.” Rahul accused the government of undermining democratic norms and shutting out opposition voices from bilateral encounters.
Support for Rahul’s charge came from other opposition voices. Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that barring the Opposition from meeting visiting leaders was a worrying “reversal of protocol,” and underscored the need for openness and democratic fairness in diplomatic engagements.
As President Putin’s two-day visit begins, scheduled to start Thursday evening, the Centre’s handling of these alleged restrictions is likely to draw heightened political scrutiny — even as multiple trade, defence and diplomatic agreements are expected to be signed during the summit.
