NO LoP TO GREET AUSSIE PM ON STATE VISIT
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott is the first leader arriving in India on a state visit after the Narendra Modi-led government came to power. But what will be missing from the standard state-visit protocol is the Leader of Opposition (LoP) calling on the dignitary for there is no designated LoP currently in the Lok Sabha.
Abbott will be visiting both Mumbai and Delhi during his two-day trip on September 4, 5. The meeting with LoP is also seen as the visiting dignitary reaching out to broader political spectrum of Indian democracy and leadership.
Congress said that visiting dignitaries not meeting LoP does not augur well for democratic traditions of the country. “By many accounts LoP is a must in a democracy and Supreme Court has also said that. It is time Lok Sabha speaker agreed to have LoP”, said Congress spokesperson Shobha Ojha.
Congress, the second largest group in the Lok Sabha with 44 seats, has been insisting that it be given the status of LoP.
Meanwhile, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will call on Abbott. The visiting PM will also call on both the President and vice-president. Abbott will also be meeting Sachin Tendulkar, reflecting the strong cricket connections India and Australia share, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, joint secretary (south) in external affairs ministry said.