New Delhi: Ahead of the India visit of Russia president Vladimir Putin, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav have noted how the Narendra Modi-led National Democratic Alliance has stopped the long-standing tradition of foreign diplomats or leaders meeting with opposition leaders.

"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," Rahul Gandhi said while speaking to reporters outside parliament.

Putin is on a two-day visit to India beginning on Thursday, during which the two leaders will hold bilateral talks.

Gandhi said that it was because of the foreign ministry and Modi’s “insecurity” that opposition leaders were not allowed to meet visiting dignitaries, even though they too represent India.

“The LoP provides a second perspective; we also represent India, not just the government. But the government doesn't want the opposition to meet foreign dignitaries. This is the tradition and norm which Modi and the foreign ministry don't follow because of insecurity,” he said.

Speaking to PTI, Yadav also said in Hindi, "Many traditions have changed ever since the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power, and this is another example in that series. Earlier, when foreign diplomats or leaders visited India, it was a tradition that they would meet not only the ruling party but also the opposition leaders. In a way, the BJP is changing these long-standing traditions."

It has indeed been tradition that foreign leaders meet the leader of opposition when they come to India.

Following Gandhi and Yadav's comments, some news outlets have quoted unnamed government sources to say that meetings outside those with designated government bodies and officials are upto the "discretion of the delegation". The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has also said that the Indian government does not decide who will meet foreign dignitaries. “When delegations come from abroad, they decide whom they want to meet, and the Ministry of External Affairs facilitates this. The government cannot decide who they will meet,” said BJP MP Sambit Patra. 

However, such meetings were also part of the public schedule released to the media by the Ministry of External Affairs. But this practice was stopped soon after Narendra Modi became prime minister for the first time, in 2014.

When he travels to other countries, Modi himself still meets with opposition leaders, as he recently did in Sri Lanka and Maldives visit.

Patra claimed that Gandhi has met foreign leaders too:

“But to keep the record straight, since Rahul Gandhi became the Leader of the Opposition on June 9, 2024, I want to share whom he has met in India in that capacity. He met former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 10, 2024; Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on August 21, 2024; Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Chandra Ramgoolam on September 16, 2025; and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on March 8, 2025. Those delegations who wanted to meet him, have done so. As I mentioned, on a day when a foreign dignitary like President Putin is visiting, creating such controversy to tarnish the country’s image is something we don't expect from Rahul Gandhi as he is the LoP and he must behave responsibly.”

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