‘Everyone Has Their Own Conscience’: Congress–Tharoor Exchange Resurfaces Over Putin Dinner Invite
Congress–Tharoor Exchange Over Putin Dinner Invite: Leaders React to Event Protocol
A fresh round of disagreement emerged within the Congress on Friday after senior MP Shashi Tharoor confirmed that he had been invited to the official Presidential dinner hosted for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Several Congress leaders questioned the move, especially as invitations were reportedly not extended to Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge, who serve as Leaders of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
⭐ Congress Leaders Express Concerns
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said party members should understand the “game being played” and suggested that both the decision to send the invitation and the choice to accept it deserved scrutiny.
“Those who issued such an invitation also raise many questions. And those who accepted the invitation are also open to scrutiny,” Khera said.
“Everyone has their own conscience, their own inner voice… We should understand why the game is being played and why we shouldn’t be part of it.”
⭐ Tharoor Responds: ‘Of Course, I Will Go’
Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor confirmed that he would attend the dinner, adding that such invitations were historically extended to the chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs.
“There was a time when the chairman of the external affairs committee was routinely invited. That practice seems to have been stopped for some years. It has now been resumed,” Tharoor said.
“I have been honoured to be invited. Of course, I will go.”
He said that in earlier years, foreign-dignitary events featured broad representation from various political parties, and the renewed inclusion of the committee chair seemed positive.
⭐ Clarification by Congress: LoPs Not Invited
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh stated on X that the Leaders of the Opposition in both Houses had not been invited to Friday’s event.
“There has been speculation… The two LoPs have not been invited,” he wrote.
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid also criticised the government’s move, calling it inconsistent with democratic practices.
“I believe this is not in accordance with democratic traditions… Even opposition leaders have not received the respect they deserve,” he said.
⭐ Rahul Gandhi’s Earlier Remarks on Foreign Dignitary Meetings
The exchange comes a day after Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Centre discourages visiting foreign dignitaries from meeting Opposition leaders.
“Generally, the tradition has been that whoever visits India, the LoP used to meet them… This used to happen earlier but not now,” Gandhi said.
He added that foreign dignitaries had told him they were advised not to meet the Leader of the Opposition, claiming the government acted out of “insecurity.”
⭐ Putin’s Visit: Official Engagements
President Putin is on a two-day visit to India. Upon arrival at Palam Airport, he was welcomed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the two leaders travelled together to the PM’s residence at Lok Kalyan Marg. Putin was presented with a copy of the Bhagavad Gita.
Earlier on Friday, President Droupadi Murmu welcomed Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where he received a ceremonial guard of honour and inspected the parade.
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