Congress raises key questions ahead of PM Modi’s Russia visit

As per Congress' Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh, PM Modi's tenure has seen a cooling of relations with Russia, despite claims of peacemaking efforts in Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk during an informal meeting at Novo-Ogaryovo residence, outside Moscow, Russia. (AP photo)

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on his visit to Russia today, the Congress party, through its Member of Parliament Jairam Ramesh, has raised three critical questions concerning India’s bilateral relations with Russia.

MP Ramesh posted these queries on the social media platform X.

Here are the questions raised by the Congress MP:

Evolution of India-Russia relations under Modi’s leadership

As per MP Ramesh, past Congress governments nurtured a strong bond with the former USSR and later Russia.

Comparing the frequency of high-level meetings between former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Russian Presidents to that of PM Modi, it was questioned whether Modi’s tenure has seen a cooling of relations, despite claims of peacemaking efforts in Ukraine.

Three questions for the एक तिहाई Prime Minister as he heads to Russia today –

1. India inherited a rich relationship with first the USSR and later Russia due to the astute diplomacy and strategic initiatives of various Congress Governments through the decades. More recently, in…

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) July 8, 2024

Economic concerns in India-Russia trade relations

The Congress MP pointed out a troubling trend in economic relations, noting that India’s exports to Russia remained stagnant from fiscal years 2014 to 2023, while imports surged significantly.

“Such a lopsided trade relationship is unsustainable in the long-term, and has deleterious consequences for our domestic industry,” Jairam Ramesh wrote.

He stressed the urgency of addressing this trade imbalance to safeguard domestic industries, and questioned whether this issue would feature prominently in PM Modi’s discussions with President Putin.

Also Read: | PM Modi’s first bilateral visit this term: Russia’s importance for India

Indian nationals in Russian Army

“According to the Indian Embassy in Moscow, at least 50 Indian nationals have joined the Russian Army,” with confirmed casualties, wrote MP Ramesh.

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He urged Prime Minister Modi to address this humanitarian issue, expressing concern about Indian youth becoming involved in a conflict where they have no direct interest.

This marks PM Modi’s first bilateral visit in his current term. The two leaders have met a total of 16 times since Modi assumed office, with their last meeting but not since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Modi’s most recent trip to Russia was for the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok in September 2019, while Putin’s last visit to India was in December 2021 for their annual bilateral summit.

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