Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has confirmed that he has received an invitation to attend a high-profile dinner hosted by the President of India. The event, scheduled for Friday, is being held in honour of visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Tharoor Confirms Attendance, Congress Alleges Snub
Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament complex in New Delhi, Tharoor stated that he will "definitely go" to the dinner. This confirmation comes amidst a growing controversy within the Congress party, which has claimed that similar invitations were not extended to its top parliamentary leaders.
The party has pointed out that the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, have not received invites for the prestigious diplomatic event. This omission has sparked significant political debate.
Congress Accuses Government of Breaching Protocol
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera addressed the media, expressing the party's surprise and disapproval. "There is no invite for the other LoPs, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi," Khera stated. He further added, "This comes as a surprise, but we should not be surprised because this government is used to breaching all protocols."
The statement underscores the ongoing political tensions, with the opposition framing the exclusion of the two senior leaders as a deliberate slight and a departure from established diplomatic and parliamentary norms. The dinner is a key part of the state visit by President Putin, highlighting the strategic ties between India and Russia.
Political Implications and Protocol Questions
The development raises questions about the government's approach towards the opposition during major diplomatic engagements. While Tharoor, a noted parliamentarian and former diplomat, has been invited, the absence of an invitation to the official Leaders of Opposition in both houses is being viewed through a political lens.
Analysts suggest such events typically see invitations extended to a broad spectrum of senior political figures to showcase national unity on foreign policy matters. The Congress's public criticism indicates that this incident may fuel further confrontations between the ruling dispensation and the principal opposition party in Parliament.
The dinner, set for Friday, remains a focal point, with attention now divided between the diplomatic honour for President Putin and the domestic political controversy it has ignited.
