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This is the first visit of the Russian President to India in four years and his first since the Ukraine conflict began.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. (Image: PTI/File)
Congress leader and Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that the government was preventing him from meeting foreign dignitaries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is scheduled to arrive India on Thursday evening.
“Normally, there is a tradition that whenever foreign dignitaries visit India, they meet the Leader of the Opposition. This used to happen during Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s time and during Manmohan Singh’s time, it has been a long-standing tradition,” Rahul Gandhi said.
He further claimed, “But nowadays, what happens is that when foreign dignitaries come here, or when I travel abroad, the government suggests to them that they should not meet the Leader of the Opposition. This is their policy, they do this every time, whether I am travelling abroad or someone is visiting here.”
Rahul Gandhi also said, “We receive messages that they have been told not to meet me. We also represent India but the government doesn’t want them to meet the opposition. They are not letting me meet Putin.”
Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi met former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon during his recent visits.
The Leader of the Opposition is also traditionally invited to the President’s banquet during such visits; however, on the previous occasion, Rahul Gandhi did not attend the event.
‘Sign Of Insecurity’
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi also alleged that the government was preventing the Leader of the Opposition and other opposition leaders from meeting foreign dignitaries, calling it a sign of insecurity.
“It is very strange. This is part of protocol, foreign dignitaries usually meet the Leader of the Opposition or members of the opposition. But they do not want to hear any other viewpoint. God knows what they are afraid of,” Priyanka Gandhi said.
She further said, “We also represent India, not just the government. The government does not want members of the opposition to meet foreign leaders. This is the norm, but Prime Minister Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs are not following this norm. This reflects their insecurity.”
‘Govt Should Respond’
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor reacted to Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that he is not being allowed to meet visiting foreign dignitaries, saying, “The LoP has made his point, and I think the government should respond.”
Tharoor said, “In a democracy, it would be nice that the visiting dignitaries meet everyone.” Calling the Russian President’s visit an important one, he added that India must maintain strong bilateral relations with Russia, China and the US, and that “we cannot accept a proposition that one relationship has to be determined by the nature of another relationship.” Emphasising sovereign autonomy, he said India must decide “the terms of our own engagement.”
Tharoor also spoke about the possibility of a mobility agreement for Indian workers, saying there should be a formal agreement to avoid situations where people go for one purpose and are pressured into another. “There is no doubt that there is a lot to be discussed, and I am convinced that our Prime Minister and President Putin will have a good conversation,” he said.
Putin’s Visit To India
Russian President Putin is scheduled to land at AFS Palam at 6:35 pm on December 4. On Friday, Putin will receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 11 am, followed by wreath-laying at Rajghat.
He will then hold talks with PM Modi at Hyderabad House, after which press statements will be delivered at 1:50 pm. The Russian President will also attend a business event later in the afternoon before meeting President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
This is the first visit of the Russian President to India in four years and his first since the Ukraine conflict began.
Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. December 04, 2025, 13:28 IST
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