Rahul Gandhi claims government is blocking meetings with foreign leaders during Putin’s India visit
Rahul Gandhi has accused the government of blocking opposition leaders from meeting foreign dignitaries during Vladimir Putin’s visit to India. He compared the current approach to earlier governments under Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, claiming that opposition engagement was then encouraged rather than restricted.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the central government does not want opposition representatives to meet visiting foreign leaders. His charge came as Russian President Vladimir Putin began his official visit to India, prompting a fresh round of political exchanges between the ruling and opposition parties.
Gandhi stated that earlier administrations, including those led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh, welcomed opposition participation during high level diplomatic engagements. He argued that such interactions strengthened India’s democratic image and ensured continuity in foreign policy irrespective of political differences.
According to Gandhi, the current government has taken a different stance by limiting access for opposition leaders during important diplomatic visits. He suggested that this approach restricts healthy political dialogue and prevents a wider representation of India’s democratic voice in front of global leaders.
The remarks come at a sensitive time since Putin’s visit involves strategic discussions on defence cooperation, energy partnerships and geopolitical issues. Political analysts note that diplomatic meetings traditionally include a role for the opposition to signal bipartisan continuity in foreign policy. They also point out that restricting interactions can become a subject of political debate, particularly when high profile leaders are visiting.
Government representatives have not formally responded to Gandhi’s comments but ruling party members have previously defended similar decisions, saying that diplomatic agendas are tightly structured and should remain focused on official engagements.
Rahul Gandhi’s charge adds another layer to the political narrative surrounding Putin’s India visit and highlights the continuing friction between the government and the opposition over issues of protocol, transparency and democratic inclusion.
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