Russia's Duma Speaker Volodin pays tribute at Rajghat ahead of BRICS Forum
Synopsis
Russia's State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin laid a wreath at Rajghat on 25 October, underscoring the symbolic weight India-Russia ties carry even as both nations prepare for the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum — a gathering PM Modi is expected to attend personally, with 64 countries now tied into India's new Parliamentary Friendship Groups.
Key Takeaways
Vyacheslav Volodin , Chairman of Russia's State Duma , paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on 25 October .
Volodin is in New Delhi for the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum , scheduled for 26–27 October at Samvidhan Sadan .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the forum and meet leaders of visiting delegations.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla described the forum as 'a new chapter in India's parliamentary diplomacy.' India has established Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries , with suggestions received from 18 countries for the forum.
EAM Jaishankar reiterated India's support for dialogue to end the Ukraine conflict at a consultative committee meeting on 3 October .
Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of Russia, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in New Delhi on 25 October 2026, laying a wreath at the memorial of India's independence icon. The visit came on the eve of the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, which Volodin is attending as part of an official delegation to India.
Rajghat Visit and Context
The Russian Embassy in India confirmed the tribute in a post on social media platform X, stating that Volodin 'arrived at the Raj Ghat Memorial Complex to pay tribute to the leader of India's national liberation movement Mahatma Gandhi and lay a wreath at his memorial.' The gesture is a customary diplomatic courtesy extended by visiting heads of state and senior officials, reflecting the deep historical resonance Gandhi holds in India's public life.
12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum: What's at Stake
Volodin is in New Delhi for the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum, scheduled for 26–27 October at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan. Held under India's chairship, the forum will bring together presiding officers and parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries to deliberate on people-centric development and the deepening of parliamentary cooperation.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, who announced the forum at a press conference at Parliament House, described it as 'a new chapter in the history of India's parliamentary diplomacy.' The event will also be attended by Union Ministers, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh, presiding officers of state legislatures, and members of parliament, among other dignitaries.
Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the forum and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of the visiting delegations, according to Birla. A preparatory meeting of delegation secretaries was held on 25 October to finalise the Joint Statement of the forum.
India's Parliamentary Outreach Expands
Birla highlighted a new initiative under which India has established Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries, describing it as the first major effort of its kind. Suggestions have reportedly been received from 18 countries ahead of discussions at the forum. According to Birla, these groups aim to strengthen parliamentary ties in countries where India-specific parliamentary friendship forums already exist.
India-Russia Ties in Focus
The forum comes amid ongoing diplomatic engagement between India and Russia. On 3 October, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar chaired a consultative committee meeting on India-Russia relations, covering trade, investment, energy, connectivity, and people-to-people ties. Jaishankar also reiterated India's 'active support to dialogue and diplomacy to end the Ukraine conflict' — a position New Delhi has consistently maintained since the war began. The bilateral agenda between the two countries remains wide-ranging, even as India navigates its relationships with both Russia and Western partners.
Point of View
But the context around it is anything but routine. India is hosting a BRICS Parliamentary Forum that includes Russia, while simultaneously positioning itself as a mediator in the Ukraine conflict — a tightrope that Jaishankar's 'dialogue and diplomacy' formulation has become a diplomatic shorthand for. The expansion of Parliamentary Friendship Groups to 64 countries signals that New Delhi is institutionalising its multi-alignment strategy at the legislative level, not just the executive. How India manages the optics of warmly receiving Moscow's parliamentary chief while maintaining its Ukraine posture will be a telling indicator of the limits and ambitions of strategic autonomy.
NationPress
25 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Russia's State Duma Speaker visit Rajghat on 25 October?
Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of Russia's State Duma, visited Rajghat on 25 October to lay a wreath and pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi as part of his official visit to India. He is attending the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi on 26–27 October.
What is the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
The 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum is a gathering of presiding officers and parliamentary leaders from BRICS member and partner countries, hosted by India at the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan on 26–27 October. The forum, held under India's chairship, will deliberate on people-centric development and parliamentary cooperation.
Will PM Modi attend the BRICS Parliamentary Forum?
Yes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to attend the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum and hold bilateral meetings with leaders of the visiting delegations, according to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
What is India's stance on the Ukraine conflict?
India has consistently supported dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Ukraine conflict. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated this position on 3 October while chairing a consultative committee meeting on India-Russia relations, which also reviewed bilateral trade, investment, energy, and people-to-people ties.
What are India's Parliamentary Friendship Groups?
India has established Parliamentary Friendship Groups with 64 countries under a new initiative announced by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. These groups aim to strengthen bilateral parliamentary ties and expand diplomatic engagement at the legislative level — described by Birla as the first major effort of its kind.
