IOC USA Vice-Chairman Slams Exclusion of Opposition Leaders from Putin State Dinner

NEW YORK (TIP): George Abraham, Vice-Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC), USA, has expressed strong dismay over the Modi government’s decision not to invite the Leader of the Opposition to the State dinner hosted for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“There is little surprise anymore in how the Modi Administration continues to undermine the democratic traditions of our great country,” said Mr. Abraham, reacting to the exclusion of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, the respective Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. “This government is busy rewriting the script, upending long-standing conventions, and dismantling the vision laid down by the founding fathers of modern India.”
Mr. Abraham noted that it has been a well-established practice—followed even by leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee—that the Opposition Leader is part of official engagements with visiting foreign dignitaries. “The Indian National Congress is a national party with a substantial following. Even with all of the BJP’s political success, they have secured the votes of barely 40% of the electorate. The remaining majority represents diverse voices that also deserve respect and representation.
He further criticized the government’s growing disregard for democratic norms, citing the repeated passage of major legislation without adequate debate or review by parliamentary committees. “The recent theatrics around the ‘Vande Mataram’ debate perfectly illustrate the misplaced priorities of this administration—wasting parliamentary time while the nation grapples with pressing issues such as unemployment, inflation, and the urgent need for rural development.”
According to Abraham, the trajectory of the country makes it evident—even to casual observers—that the democratic ethos championed by Gandhi, Nehru, and Ambedkar is being eroded. “What we are witnessing is an authoritarian agenda that seeks to weaken institutions, intimidate the press, and promote crony capitalism under the guise of ultra-nationalism,” he said.
He concluded with a call for national introspection: “It is time for the nation to pause, self-examine, and return to the foundational principles that built our democracy—pluralism, transparency, and respect for dissent.”