Rahul Gandhi alleges diplomatic protocol breach

Rahul Gandhi, a leader of the India — Indian National Congress, alleged that the government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discourages visiting foreign dignitaries from meeting the Leader of the Opposition. He claimed this practice, which he attributes to the government's 'insecurity', breaks a long-standing tradition followed during previous administrations. Priyanka Gandhi supported her brother's claims, calling it a breach of democratic protocol. These allegations were made ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to India. India — Bharatiya Janata Party MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla dismissed Rahul Gandhi's claims as baseless, stating that there is no mandatory protocol for such meetings and that schedules are time-constrained.