Congress Divided Over Tharoor’s Dinner Invite For Putin
A controversy has erupted within the Indian National Congress after its MP Shashi Tharoor accepted an invitation to attend the state banquet hosted for Vladimir Putin at the presidential residence — when key party leaders were reportedly excluded.
Opposition Leaders Snubbed, Tharoor Invited
Sources confirmed that the two top opposition leaders, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, were not invited. This sparked sharp criticism from within Congress, with senior party member Pawan Khera calling the invitation to Tharoor “surprising” and questioning the motives behind it. He said that if senior leaders were not invited, it was strange that Tharoor was, and suggested accepting the invite could raise questions of conscience.
Tharoor Defends His Decision
Tharoor said he believed the invite followed protocol because of his role as the chairman of a parliamentary external affairs committee, and said he would attend the banquet. He argued that such dinners traditionally involved varied representation, and that his acceptance was based on invitation and protocol, not politics.
Fallout Inside Congress
The incident reflects mounting tensions within the party, revealing diverging views on engagement with government invitations. Some leaders view Tharoor’s acceptance as undermining unity, while others see it as a personal choice. The discord comes at a sensitive time for the party, which has been vocal about protocol and inclusivity in diplomatic events.
