Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has raised concerns about the government's practice of preventing foreign dignitaries from meeting the Leader of the Opposition (LoP). His comments came just hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin's arrival in New Delhi for a two-day visit. Gandhi stated that this exclusion is a departure from the tradition upheld during the tenures of former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, where it was customary for visiting leaders to meet the LoP.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Gandhi said, "It used to happen during the governments of Vajpayee ji and Manmohan Singh ji. This has been a tradition. But these days, when foreign dignitaries visit or when I travel abroad, the government advises them not to meet the LoP. We, too, represent India. It is not just the government." He accused the government of acting out of "insecurity" and suggested that they do not want the opposition to provide an alternative perspective on India's position in international matters.

Gandhi's remarks were echoed by other Congress leaders, including Shashi Tharoor, who emphasised the importance of allowing visiting leaders to meet all sides in a democracy. Tharoor stated, "The government should respond" and highlighted the need for India to maintain its sovereign autonomy in managing relations with countries like Russia, the US, and China.

The upcoming summit between Modi and Putin is expected to focus on enhancing defence cooperation, protecting India-Russia trade from external pressures, and exploring collaboration in small modular nuclear reactors. This visit marks Putin's first trip to India since the onset of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.

As the Russian President prepares for his visit, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh recalled the historical ties between India and Russia, dating back to the visits of Soviet leaders Nikolai Bulganin and Nikita Khrushchev in 1955. Ramesh noted that these early interactions laid the foundation for the strong Indo-Russian partnership that continues today.

Putin is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi this evening, with a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Modi planned shortly after his arrival. The two leaders will engage in formal talks on Friday, with discussions expected to cover a range of strategic issues.