Storm over PM seeing Sonia off to Russia

BJP sees breach of protocol, Congress softpedals issue

Two days after she left for Russia, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's journey yielded controversy much in the fashion of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief LK Advani's trip to Pakistan.

The BJP today demanded an explanation from the government as to why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in a breach of protocol, went to the airport to see Gandhi off. Gandhi, as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and National Advisory Council chairperson, holds Cabinet rank.

According to norms, the Prime Minister is supposed to see off and receive only the President, the Vice-President and other visiting dignitaries.

During the PV Narasimha Rao government, security considerations had relieved the Prime Minister of the obligation of seeing off foreign heads of state as well.

The matter does not end there. According to reports, Gandhi has flown to Russia on an aircraft belonging to one of the biggest industrial houses in the country.

The BJP, however, said another matter of concern was that External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh was accompanying Gandhi to Russia neglecting a G-77 meeting in Doha.

"If this is a personal visit by Gandhi, why does the foreign minister have to be part of the trip. If it is not a personal visit, then Singh should be leading the delegation as a Cabinet minister," said Prakash Javadekar, BJP spokesman.

"The Congress cannot be used as a synonym for the country," he added.

"The G-77 is an important group meeting. Instead of going himself, Singh has deputed his junior to represent the country while he accompanies Gandhi around Russia," Javadekar said.

The Congress, on its part, remained on the defensive with most of the questions being left unanswered.

Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said she was not aware of the aircraft used by the Congress chief. "This has to be checked with her office," Natarajan added.

She also said it was up to the external affairs ministry to clarify the capacity in which Singh had accompanied Gandhi.