‘LoP provides a second perspective’: Rahul, Priyanka slam Modi govt, claim ‘not being allowed to meet Putin’

The Congress hit out at the Narendra Modi government on Thursday, alleging it is not allowing opposition leaders to meet visiting foreign leaders and other dignitaries.

Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said that the current government at the Centre has gone against tradition by refusing to allow opposition leaders to meet visiting foreign dignitaries.

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“Generally, the tradition has been that whoever visits India, the LoP used to have a meeting. It used to happen in the Vajpayee government and the Manmohan Singh government. But this is not the case now,” Rahul told the media.

Rahul further claimed that the government was insecure about him meeting people when he is travelling abroad as well.

| “We have relations with everyone,” said Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP @RahulGandhi on Russian President’s India visit. #PutinIndiaVisit #IndiaRussia #TheStatesman pic.x.com/pKhvaRo0U8

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) December 4, 2025

“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,” he stated.

Vladimir Putin to arrive in Delhi today; India and Russia gear up for key defence and energy talks

‘Against Protocol’

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rahul’s sister, supported the allegations and said the Modi government was insecure. She added that the protocol has been changed by the current dispensation.

“It’s strange. It is protocol that visiting dignitaries meet the LoP. But this government’s policy is based on not allowing other voices to rise. I do not know what kind of fear and insecurity they have. In a democracy, everyone should have the right to express their views. This government is insecure, and this is a reflection of that. It endangers our democracy,” Priyanka alleged.

It may be noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin is arriving in India later today on a two-day visit to take part in the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit. The visit will see talks around defence, energy, and economic cooperation as New Delhi and Moscow seek to enhance bilateral engagement.

Major defence, trade deals high on agenda of two-day Putin visit to India

This will be Putin’s first trip to India since the Ukraine conflict in February 2022. The visit also comes in the backdrop of US sanctions on New Delhi for buying Russian oil, which the US claims is helping fund the Russian war in Ukraine.