Centre Denies 'No-LoP Meet' Policy, Claims Foreign Dignitaries Decide

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The Centre has pushed back against Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi's claim that the union government advises foreign visitors not to meet the LoP. According to government sources, it's up to the visiting delegation to decide on meetings outside official channels. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in India for a 2-day state visit and a summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Gandhi made the claim while speaking to reporters outside Parliament, stating that the government's policy is to prevent the LoP from meeting foreign dignitaries. However, the government has provided a list of foreign leaders who have met the LoP since June 2024, including the Prime Ministers of Bangladesh, Vietnam, Malaysia, Mauritius, and New Zealand. BJP leaders have hit back at Rahul Gandhi, calling his remarks 'inappropriate' and 'factually incorrect.' BJP MP Sambit Patra questioned Rahul Gandhi's assertion that the government has a sense of insecurity, saying that India's rising economic status and global stature make it unlikely. Patra also accused Gandhi of overestimating himself and stirring an unnecessary dispute.