Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor's attendance at the official banquet hosted for Russian President Vladimir Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan has reignited tensions within the opposition party. The event, held on Saturday, became a focal point of controversy as senior Congress leaders criticized the government for overlooking parliamentary protocol by not inviting the Leaders of Opposition from both Houses.
A Warm Evening and Internal Storm
Shashi Tharoor shared his experience from the high-profile dinner on social media platform X, posting pictures from the event. He described the atmosphere as "warm and engaging" and mentioned that he enjoyed conversations with attendees, particularly members of the Russian delegation seated at his table. "Attended the Rashtrapati Bhavan banquet for President Putin last night. A warm and engaging atmosphere reigned," the Congress leader wrote.
However, this diplomatic engagement quickly turned into a political flashpoint. Tharoor had earlier confirmed receiving an official invitation and stated his intention to attend. This decision came against the backdrop of the Congress party's claim that no invitations were extended to Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
Congress Leaders Decry "Breach of Protocol"
The omission of the two senior opposition figures from the guest list drew sharp reactions from within the Congress. Senior spokesperson Pawan Khera led the charge, accusing the government of deliberately breaching established diplomatic protocol. He questioned why Tharoor chose to accept the invitation under these circumstances, urging party members to recognize the political game at play and refrain from participating in it.
The criticism was not isolated. Former Union Minister Salman Khurshid echoed the sentiment, stating that the move contradicted long-standing democratic traditions where the Leader of the Opposition is routinely included in meetings with visiting foreign dignitaries. This collective disapproval highlighted a significant internal disagreement over how to respond to the government's actions.
Rahul Gandhi Points to Government "Insecurity"
Rahul Gandhi himself expressed his displeasure, framing the issue as a departure from precedent and a sign of the ruling dispensation's fragility. "Generally, the tradition has been that whoever visits India, the LoP used to have a meeting. It used to happen in the Vajpayee government, the Manmohan Singh government. But this is not the case now," Gandhi stated.
He suggested that the current government's "insecurity" was the reason behind preventing such meetings. This allegation points to a deeper political narrative, positioning the protocol snub not as an oversight but as a strategic move by a government uncomfortable with the opposition's stature.
The incident underscores the ongoing friction within the Congress party regarding engagement with government-hosted events, especially when perceived slights to the party's top leadership are involved. It also brings into focus the delicate balance Indian politicians must maintain between diplomatic courtesy and partisan solidarity.
