"It's MEA's responsibility to arrange meetings, govt can't interfere": BJP slams Rahul Gandhi's remarks on blocking meetings with foreign dignitaries

New Delhi [India], December 4 : The BJP on Thursday hit back at Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his allegation that the Centre prevents him from meeting visiting foreign dignitaries.
BJP MP Sambit Patra called the remarks "inappropriate" and "factually incorrect," saying they project India in a poor light at a time when global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, are visiting the country.
"The way Rahul Gandhi ji has spoken today is not only inappropriate, but I feel it is wrong. This does not present India in a good light. This statement is without any facts. Rahul Gandhi said that the Government of India does not allow the LoP to meet the foreign dignitaries who come because the Government of India has a sense of insecurity. Why would there be insecurity in the Government of India? I would like to tell him that today India is the fourth-largest economic power. Today, India has a stature in the world, so there is probably no insecurity...I think he's overestimating himself," Patra said.
Sambit Patra asserted that the MEA alone facilitates such meetings and listed several foreign leaders who have met the LoP since June 2024, adding that Rahul Gandhi was creating needless controversy and "overestimating himself."
"Secondly, he said, whenever I visit abroad, the Indian government informs other countries not to allow the LoP to meet leaders. Judging our country this way, talking about our country this way, especially when foreign guests like Putin are about to arrive, is not appropriate to say such things about the country... It's important for everyone to know clearly: when a foreign delegate comes to India, it's the Ministry of External Affairs' responsibility to arrange meetings with government officials and other individuals. We, the government, can't interfere in who they want to meet," he said.
"But still, to keep the records straight. Since 9th June 2024, the following leaders have met the Leader of the opposition: Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on 10 June, 2024, Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Ching on 1 Aug 2024, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia on 21 August 2024, Prime Minister of Mauritius Navinchandra Ramgoolam on 16 September 2025 and Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon on 8 March 2025. Naturally, Rahul has met with all the delegations that expressed a desire to meet him. As I said, we don't expect Rahul to raise such controversies and tarnish the country's image on the same day when the President of another country is visiting. He is a LoP and should always behave responsibly," Patra said.
This comes after Rahul Gandhi accused the centre of suggesting that the foreign dignitaries not meet the LoP.
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said it was tradition under former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh for the LoP to meet foreign dignitaries.
The Congress MP said, "This has been a tradition. But these days, foreign dignitaries visit, or when I visit abroad, the government suggests that they not meet the LoP. This is their policy, and they do it all the time."
Further, he said that PM Narendra Modi and the External Affairs Ministry are "insecure".
"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 meeting people from outside. Modi ji and the Foreign Ministry don't follow this norm. It is their insecurity," he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has departed from Russia for his two-day State visit to India, as reported by TASS.