New Delhi, December 5: Russian President Vladimir Putin paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat early Friday, shortly after being accorded a ceremonial welcome at the presidential residence in New Delhi. The gesture comes as he arrives for a two-day State visit culminating in the 23rd India–Russia Annual Summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Homage at Rajghat
President Putin laid a wreath and offered floral tributes at the memorial to Mahatma Gandhi, widely respected as the father of the Indian nation. He also signed the visitors’ book at the Rajghat memorial, accompanied by Kirti Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs.
Earlier in the morning, he had been welcomed at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan by President Droupadi Murmu and PM Modi, receiving a tri-services Guard of Honour with the national anthems of both Russia and India. Senior dignitaries from both countries were present, including defence and diplomatic officials.
Significance of the Visit
This marks President Putin’s first visit to India in four years, and his first official trip since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. mint+2DD News+2 The two-day state visit is viewed as a reaffirmation of the long-standing strategic ties between India and Russia, aimed at deepening cooperation on various fronts, including defence, energy, trade and cultural exchange.
As part of the goodwill, earlier on arrival, PM Modi broke diplomatic protocol to personally receive President Putin at the airport. The warm gesture was followed by a symbolic ride together from the airport to the Prime Minister’s residence.
The tribute at Rajghat — a site symbolic of India’s independence movement and Gandhi’s legacy — underscores the diplomatic sensitivity and the cultural respect forming part of the visit’s messaging. The summit scheduled later today is expected to set the tone for fresh agreements across strategic sectors of bilateral cooperation.
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