Rahul Gandhi Slams Govt for Breaking Tradition by Blocking Opposition Meeting with Putin

Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the central government of deliberately preventing Opposition leaders from meeting visiting foreign dignitaries—a parliamentary tradition he said was upheld by previous governments but has now been “abandoned.”

Speaking to reporters ahead of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrival in New Delhi, Gandhi said successive governments, including those led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, ensured that foreign leaders engaged with both Treasury and Opposition benches.

“This has always been a tradition. But these days, when foreign dignitaries visit—or when I travel abroad—the government advises them not to meet the Leader of Opposition. We, too, represent India,” he said.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government discourages such meetings due to “insecurity,” claiming it does not want the LoP to offer alternative perspectives on India’s global positions.

Putin’s Visit and India–Russia Agenda

President Putin will land in Delhi around 4:30 pm and is scheduled to attend a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi—a reciprocal gesture following Modi’s visit to Moscow last year.

Formal talks on Friday are expected to explore:

• Strengthening defence cooperation

• Safeguarding India–Russia trade from external pressure

• Collaboration on small modular nuclear reactors

The visit comes amid noticeable strain in India–US ties, adding significance to the India–Russia dialogue.

Congress Recalls Historic Indo-Soviet Ties

The Congress highlighted the roots of the India–Russia partnership, tracing it back to the landmark India visit of Soviet leaders Nikolai Bulganin and Nikita Khrushchev in 1955.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh noted that the 19-day visit—following Jawaharlal Nehru’s trip to the USSR—laid the groundwork for cooperation in defence and public sector industries.
He noted that the collaboration led to MiG aircraft production at HAL and influenced the formation of ONGC and public-sector firms such as IDPL, driving later private-sector growth.

President Putin will conclude his approximately 28-hour visit on Friday night.