MEA snubs claims surrounding India-Russia Summit, calls them 'particularly irresponsible'

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday slammed 'false and misleing' imputations surrounding India-Russia Summit 2020, clarifying that Summit did t take place due to COVID-19 pandemic. While issuing an official statement, MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava stated that decision to postpone India-Russia Summit was 'mutually agreed' upon by both countries. official also called out stories speculating any or reason for delay 'particularly irresponsible'.

" India-Russia Annual Summit did t take place in 2020 because of COVID pandemic. This was a mutually agreed decision between two Governments. Any imputation orwise is false and misleing. Spreing false stories on important relationships is particularly irresponsible," said MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava. 

MEA's official statement on Summit comes amid reports by selective media houses who have thrown speculations surrounding delay in Summit.  A particular media house earlier today claimed that delay was due to Moscow's 'reservations' with India joining hands with QU to secure Indo-Pacific region. reafter,  report was picked up by Congress leer Rahul Gandhi who went on fearmonger over claims saying that 'damaging relationships' with Russia could prove to be 'dangerous' for India's future.

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Russia clears claims surrounding Summit

Meanwhile, amid conjecture surrounding India-Russia Annual Summit, Russian Ambassor to India Nikolay Kudashev has stated that Russian President Vlimir Putin, who was earlier scheduled to visit India in late 2020, may visit country during first six months of next year.

"It became more difficult to maintain contacts due to pandemic. It has affected frequency of face-to-face meetings, but Russian-Indian political and ecomic dialogue has t become less intense. Summits are highest point of dialogue. summit was due to be held in October. re have been large-scale preparations, but it has been decided by mutual agreement to postpone meeting until next year. When will meeting take place? sooner better. I hope we will receive Russian president in India in first half of coming year," Sputnik quoted Kudashev as saying.

ditionally, Moscow has also said that New Delhi should t be worried about its relationship with Pakistan, ar talking point of imputations, ting that Russia's ties with Islamab are "independent" in nature. Russian mission Roman Babushkin has even said that his government is 'mindful of respecting sensitivities of or countries.'

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