Rahul Gandhi Accuses Government of Undermining Opposition's Role Ahead of Putin's Visit
In a recent statement, Rahul Gandhi, the opposition leader in the Lok Sabha, criticized the Indian government for allegedly advising foreign dignitaries to avoid meetings with opposition figures. This claim comes just before Russian President Vladimir Putin's scheduled visit to India. Gandhi highlighted that such interactions were customary during previous administrations but have changed under the current government. He expressed concerns about the government's insecurity regarding the opposition's role in international relations. As Putin arrives for discussions on various cooperation areas, the political landscape in India remains tense with these accusations.
Dec 4, 2025, 13:47 IST
Concerns Raised by Rahul Gandhi
Before Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India, Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, claimed on Thursday that the central government is advising foreign dignitaries to avoid meeting with opposition leaders. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi noted that during the tenures of former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, it was customary for opposition leaders to engage with visiting foreign dignitaries.
He emphasized that this practice has changed. Nowadays, when foreign dignitaries arrive or when he travels abroad, the government suggests that they refrain from meeting with the opposition leader. This reflects the government's policy, which he believes is a consistent approach. Gandhi further stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs appear insecure. He added that all of them represent India, and the opposition holds a different perspective. The government seems reluctant to allow the opposition to interact with international figures, which he views as a sign of insecurity from Modi and the Ministry.
According to reports, President Putin has departed from Russia for his two-day visit to India. Russian media indicates that the delegation will engage in extensive discussions on trade, economic, scientific, technical, cultural, and humanitarian cooperation. Current international and regional issues will also be on the agenda. During this visit, ten intergovernmental documents and over 15 agreements and memorandums between commercial and non-commercial entities of both nations are expected to be signed. Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi this evening for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.