Did AP Government Violate Protocol in Prime Minister’s Visit?

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has visited Andhra Pradesh the other day. This is an Official cum Political Visit. According to the Protocol, The Chief Minister was supposed to welcome the Prime Minister at the Airport. But due to the ongoing tussle in AP, Chandrababu Naidu did not go nor sent his ministers.

AP Government, however, says there is no deviation from the Protocol. “The Prime Minister attended some Official Programs in the State but the Government of India did not invite the Chief Minister to any of these which is a deviation of Protocol. The night before the PM’s visit, ONGC invited the CM for these Programs,” a Senior Official said.

Technically, if PMO and SPG did not invite the Chief Minister about the Prime Minister’s Program, then the Tour is not official at least for the State Government. So, there is no Protocol Violation. If there is any, it has been initiated by the Prime Minister’s Office itself, the official said.