Rahul Says Govt Blocking His Meetings With Foreign Leaders

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Amid Vladimir Putin’s India visit, Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi alleges protocol breakdown, while government sources tell CNN-News18 that meetings depend on visiting delegations, not political clearance.

By TRH Political Desk

New Delhi, December 4, 2025 — A political storm erupted over diplomatic protocol after Leader of the Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government is deliberately preventing him from meeting visiting foreign dignitaries, as Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India.

Speaking to reporters outside parliament, Rahul Gandhi said that for decades it was a standing tradition for visiting world leaders to meet the Leader of the Opposition, a practice he claimed was followed during both the Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh governments. “Now whenever I visit abroad, people tell me they have been informed not to meet the LoP. The LoP provides a second perspective; we also represent India. But the government doesn’t want foreign dignitaries to meet us because of insecurity,” he said.

Gandhi alleged that both the Prime Minister and the foreign ministry no longer follow established democratic conventions, arguing that it weakens India’s plural diplomatic voice.

However, top government sources strongly rejected the allegations. CNN-News18 quoted anonymous officials, saying that the Ministry of External Affairs organises meetings of visiting dignitaries only with government leaders and official bodies as part of formal protocol. Any interaction with leaders outside the government — including the Leader of the Opposition — is arranged only if the visiting delegation specifically requests it.

“In this case, the Russian side did not seek any meeting with Rahul Gandhi or any other opposition leader,” government sources were quoted by the broadcaster, who added that it is “entirely the prerogative of the visiting delegation.”

The news channel quoted sources further countering Gandhi’s claims with data, pointing out that since he became Leader of the Opposition on June 9, 2024, he has already met five world leaders during their official India visits. These include Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (June 2024), Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (August 2024), Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth (September 2025), and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (March 2025).

Officials stressed that these examples clearly undermine the charge that the government systematically blocks opposition-dignitary meetings. “There is no directive from the government asking visiting leaders not to meet the Leader of the Opposition,” sources said.