New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor attended the state banquet hosted for Russian President Vladimir Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday, sparking discussion after opposition leaders in Parliament claimed they were being sidelined from official interactions with visiting dignitaries.
The two-day visit of President Putin to India, his first since the war in Ukraine began, included a bilateral summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, where both leaders reaffirmed the strategic friendship between New Delhi and Moscow. The summit was followed by the state banquet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, attended by select ministers, parliamentarians, and officials.
Tharoor’s Presence and Interactions
At the banquet, Tharoor was seen engaging with key government figures, including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Union Minister Piyush Goyal and other dignitaries were also present. Video footage shared by ANI showed Tharoor in animated conversation with Sitharaman and Jaishankar, highlighting his active participation in the formal event.
Tharoor, who chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, was among the few Congress leaders invited, raising eyebrows as Congress claimed that neither its Lok Sabha leader, Rahul Gandhi, nor Rajya Sabha leader Mallikarjun Kharge, had been extended invitations.
In response to the situation, Tharoor said, “Don’t know on what basis invitations are issued, but I will certainly attend. It is not appropriate that the Leaders of the Opposition are not invited,” as seen in video shared by PTI.
Opposition Raises Concerns Over Protocol
Congress has expressed concern over what it perceives as a breach of established protocol. Traditionally, leaders of opposition parties are invited to state banquets and official dinners for visiting foreign dignitaries at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The party’s communication chief, Jairam Ramesh, posted on X that the absence of the LoP in both houses was notable and unprecedented.
According to Congress officials, the invitation extended to Tharoor, a senior parliamentarian but not the formal leader of the party in either house, did not compensate for the absence of Rahul Gandhi or Mallikarjun Kharge. The party argued that excluding the formal opposition leadership undermines the tradition of bipartisan courtesy in diplomatic engagements.
A senior party source said, “Invitations to such high-level events are not merely ceremonial; they signal recognition of institutional roles. The LoPs should have been invited, as has always been the case in the past.”
Government Response
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dismissed claims of sidelining the opposition, noting that invitations to state banquets are issued based on protocol, committee positions, and the discretion of the President’s office. Officials emphasised that Tharoor’s attendance, as head of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, was fully appropriate.
A government source said, “While opposition leaders are generally invited, the President’s Office also considers committee chairs, senior parliamentarians, and diplomatic representatives. Shashi Tharoor, as chair of the external affairs panel, is a key participant in such discussions.”
Context: India-Russia Relations
The banquet was part of a broader effort to reinforce India-Russia ties amid ongoing global tensions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Prime Minister Modi and President Putin discussed areas of cooperation, including energy, defence, and nuclear power projects. The visit also included the announcement of potential collaborations in small modular reactors and other strategic sectors.
The timing of Tharoor’s interactions with key ministers has been interpreted by analysts as highlighting the importance of parliamentary engagement in India’s foreign policy, even amid political rivalries. By participating, Tharoor positioned himself as a bridge between the government and opposition voices, especially in matters of strategic diplomacy.
Reactions and Takeaways
Political analysts noted that while the absence of the LoPs may generate headlines, the inclusion of senior parliamentarians like Tharoor indicates the government’s willingness to engage cross-party members in matters of foreign policy. “Tharoor’s presence reflects his expertise in international affairs and the importance of parliamentary consultation in diplomacy,” said one analyst.
For the Congress party, however, the incident underscores lingering tensions over access and protocol at state-level events. The party may use this episode to press for more consistent inclusion of opposition leaders in official diplomatic functions in the future.
Conclusion
Shashi Tharoor’s attendance at the Rashtrapati Bhavan banquet for President Putin, and his interactions with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, highlights the complex interplay between parliamentary roles, party politics, and India’s diplomatic engagements. While the government maintained that the event followed protocol, Congress’s concerns reflect a broader conversation about inclusivity and tradition in India’s high-profile international interactions.
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