(a) Whether the Minister of External Affairs paid an official visit to Russia; recently ;
(b) if so, whether the Congress President accompanied him in the above official tour;
(c) if so, the capacity in which the President of the Congress Party accompanied the Minister of External Affairs on the official visit; and
(d) if not, the capacity in which the Minister of External Affairs accompanied the President of the Congress Party along with details thereof?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)
(a) Yes.
(b) Minister of External Affairs accompanied Smt. Sonia Gandhi during her visit to Russia.
(c) Smt. Sonia Gandhi made an official visit to Russia in her capacity as Chairperson of the UPA at the personal invitation of President Vladimir Putin.
(d) Smt. Sonia Gandhi`s visit to Russia was part of high level exchanges between India and Russia. The Minister of External Affairs accompanied Chairperson UPA in his official capacity.