Rahul Gandhi accuses Modi govt of blocking meeting with Putin, calls it 'insecurity policy'

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. (File photo)

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition and Congress lawmaker Rahul Gandhi has alleged that the Centre suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin to not meet the leaders of other parties during his India visit. Talking to reporters outside Parliament in New Delhi, Gandhi said that it was the ‘insecurity’ on part of the government that has made them block the Opposition’s meeting with the Russia President.

"...It usually is a tradition that whoever visits from outside has a meeting with LoP (Leader of Opposition). It used to happen during the governments of Vajpayee ji, Manmohan Singh ji. This has been a tradition. But these days, foreign dignitaries or when I visit abroad, Govt suggests them to not meet the LoP. This is their policy and they do it all the time...," Gandhi was quoted as saying.

#WATCH | Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, "...It usually is a tradition that whoever visits from outside has a meeting with LoP. It used to happen during the governments of Vajpayee ji, Manmohan Singh ji. This has been a tradition. But these days, foreign… pic.twitter.com/5PxmGtiDCn

— ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2025

On Russian President's visit, the Congress leader added, "We have relations with everyone. LoP gives a different perspective. We too represent India. It is not just the government which does it. The government doesn't want the Opposition to meet people coming from outside...Modi ji and Foreign Ministry don't follow this norm. It is their insecurity."

#WATCH | Delhi: On Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale says, "... Here, discussions will take place on many issues. There will be a significant increase in trade between India and Russia, benefiting both countries. Rahul Gandhi and… pic.twitter.com/Ywz6jsnEwQ — ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2025

Countering Gandhi’s allegations, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale said that the Centre has no role to play in this. He said that if the Opposition wants to meet Putin, it should have asked for an appointment. “Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi are alleging that PM Modi is insecure. I believe that no leader is as secure as PM Modi is... Such an allegation is baseless...," Athawale was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

India is preparing to receive Russian President Vladimir Putin for his first visit since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. He will arrive in Delhi on Thursday evening for the 23rd India-Russia annual summit, where the two sides are expected to focus on strengthening defence cooperation and expanding trade and energy ties over the course of his two-day stay.

Putin's itinerary includes a meeting with President Droupadi Murmu and a private dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly after his arrival. According to presidential aide Yury Ushakov, discussions will cover trade and economic cooperation as well as "promising projects'' in industrial collaboration, advanced technologies, transport, peaceful space exploration, mining, healthcare and labour migration. He added that political dialogue between the two countries remains "regular and confidential."

The visit also carries added geopolitical weight, coming just months after the United States imposed 50% tariffs on Indian imports.