The Union Government on Thursday rejected Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s allegation that the Centre was preventing him, in his capacity as Leader of the Opposition (LoP), from meeting visiting foreign dignitaries — including Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi this evening.
According to official sources, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) facilitates interactions between visiting dignitaries and government officials or constitutional bodies. Any meetings outside this formal framework — such as engagements with political leaders — are arranged solely at the discretion of the visiting dignitary.
Earlier in the day, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the government was intentionally obstructing such interactions.
“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 tenure. It has been a long-standing tradition,” he said.
Gandhi further claimed that both the Prime Minister and the MEA routinely discourage visiting delegations from engaging with the Opposition, calling the move “an act of insecurity.” According to him, the government is apprehensive about the LoP presenting an alternative viewpoint on India’s positions.
“But nowadays, when foreign dignitaries come here, or when I travel abroad, the government suggests 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,” he said.
However, government sources pointed out that several high-profile foreign leaders have met Rahul Gandhi since he assumed office as LoP on June 9, 2024. These include:
- Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina – June 10, 2024
- Prime Minister of Vietnam, Pham Minh Chinh – August 1, 2024
- Prime Minister of Malaysia, Anwar Ibrahim – August 21, 2024
- Prime Minister of New Zealand, Christopher Luxon – March 8, 2025
- Prime Minister of Mauritius, Navinchandra Ramgoolam – September 16, 2025
The Leader of the Opposition is also traditionally invited to the President’s banquet during state visits. However, on the previous such occasion, Rahul Gandhi did not attend.
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks come ahead of President Putin’s arrival at AFS Palam at 6:35 p.m. on December 4. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host the Russian President for a private dinner shortly after his arrival — a reciprocal gesture for the hospitality extended to the Prime Minister during his visit to Moscow last year.
On Friday, President Putin will receive a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 11 a.m., followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at Rajghat. He will then hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House, with joint press statements scheduled for 1:50 p.m. The Russian President is also expected to attend a business event later in the afternoon before calling on President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
This marks President Putin’s first visit to India in four years and his first since the onset of the Ukraine conflict.
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