New Delhi, September 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin once again showcased their close ties on Friday as they travelled together in the same car to the INNOPROM Exhibition in New Delhi, shortly after concluding their bilateral meeting at Bharat Mandapam.
The exhibition has been organised by the ministries of industry and trade of India and Russia. The joint car ride marked the third such instance involving the two leaders in recent years, drawing renewed attention to what analysts have described as Modi’s “car diplomacy”.
The leaders had shared a similar journey in Kyrgyzstan on August 31, when they travelled together to the opening ceremony of the World Nomad Games following their bilateral talks on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek.
A year earlier, Modi and Putin had also travelled together to the venue of their bilateral meeting in Tianjin, China, during the SCO Leaders’ Summit.
The close public gestures between the two leaders have generated considerable discussion on social media, highlighting the warmth in India-Russia ties.
During Friday’s meeting, Modi also presented Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, the celebrated Tamil classic by poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar. The work contains 1,330 couplets, known as Kurals, covering themes including virtue, wealth and love, and is widely regarded for its universal and secular character. The Russian translation has been done by Naira Mkrtchyan.
“Presented President Putin with a Russian translation of the Thirukkural, which carries the eternal wisdom of the great Thiruvalluvar across languages and borders,” Modi posted on X.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov and other officials attended the meeting. Modi and Putin exchanged a warm hug before beginning their second meeting of the year, following their August 31 interaction in Bishkek.
Putin arrived in New Delhi earlier on Friday to attend the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be hosted by India on September 12 and 13. Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh received him at the airport.
The Ministry of External Affairs said India and Russia share “multifaceted and longstanding ties” anchored in their Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
India’s BRICS chairship is being conducted under the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflecting a people-centric approach based on the principle of “Humanity First”.
During the summit, leaders are expected to discuss strengthening intra-BRICS cooperation on shared priorities as well as exchange views on global and regional issues of mutual interest.
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