NEW DELHI: Hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin’s arrival in New Delhi, Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused the Modi-led Centre of not following the “tradition” of allowing foreign dignitaries to meet the leader of opposition.Speaking to reporters in the Parliament complex, Rahul expressed displeasure and alleged that the government tells visiting foreign dignitaries not to meet the Leader of the Opposition due to its “insecurity”.Also read |Putin’s India visit: From private dinner with PM Modi to Rajghat visit — what’s on the itinerary
Rahul said, “Generally, the tradition has been that whoever visits India, the LoP used to have a meeting. It used to happen in the Vajpayee government, the Manmohan Singh government. But this is not the case now. Whenever I visit abroad, they suggest that those people shouldn’t meet the LoP. People told us we have been informed not to meet the LoP. LoP provides a second perspective; we also represent India, but the government doesn’t want us to meet foreign dignitaries. PM Modi and the foreign ministry do not follow this now because of insecurity.”Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor backed Rahul Gandhi’s concern that the LoP gets barred from meeting visiting dignitaries in Modi-led Centre, saying the government “should respond.”He mentioned that visiting leaders should be free to meet all sides in a democracy and stressed that India must retain “sovereign autonomy” in managing ties with Russia, the US and China.Tharoor said expert-level talks are underway ahead of President Putin’s visit, covering defence and mobility agreements. “Defence cooperation has been vital—we saw the value of the S-400 during Operation Sindoor. Discussions are on for more S-400s, or even S-500,” he said.He added that any labour mobility pact must ensure Indians going abroad for work are not pushed into military roles. “There is much to discuss, and I’m sure the PM and President Putin will have a productive meeting,” Tharoor said.Congress MP from Wayanad Priyanka Gandhi also reacted on Rahul’s concern of government not letting LoP meet visiting dignitaries, she said, “It is very weird. There is a protocol, and all visiting dignitaries meet the LoP. The protocol is being reversed by the government and all their policies are based on this. They don’t want anyone to raise their voice. They don’t want to listen to any other opinion. They should abide by the protocols of a democracy. God knows what they are scared of... In a democracy, everyone should be able to put forward their opinions, discussions must be held, and appropriate action must be taken… The government is insecure, and this decision is a reflection of that… What will they get by breaking and reversing this protocol? This is their insecurity… The image of democracy is tarnished in the world.”Meanwhile, Russian media agency TASS reported that President Putin has departed for his two-day state visit to India.According to the outlet, the Russian delegation will hold wide-ranging discussions on cooperation in trade and economic areas, scientific and technological fields, and cultural and humanitarian sectors. Current international and regional issues will also be part of the agenda.TASS also reported that ten intergovernmental documents and more than fifteen agreements and memorandums between commercial and non-commercial entities of both countries are expected to be signed during the visit.Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi this evening for the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit. This is his first visit to India since the Ukraine conflict began in 2022; his last visit was in December 2021. The two-day trip is taking place at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The Prime Minister is also set to host a private dinner for the Russian President upon his arrival in the capital.
