NEW DELHI, Dec 6: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who attended a banquet hosted for Russian President Vladimir Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday, described the gathering as “warm” and “engaging”, adding that he enjoyed conversations with several attendees.
Tharoor’s remarks came a day after President Droupadi Murmu hosted the visiting Russian president and his delegation at the ceremonial hall in New Delhi.
“Attended the @rashtrapatibhvn banquet for President Putin last night. A warm and engaging atmosphere reigned. Enjoyed my conversations with many of the attendees, especially my dining companions from the Russian delegation!” Tharoor wrote on X.
In her welcome address, President Murmu said Putin’s visit marked an important milestone — the 25th anniversary of the India-Russia strategic partnership, established in October 2000 during his first visit to India as president. She also appreciated Putin’s support and “personal commitment” to the special and privileged strategic partnership between the two nations.
Meanwhile, the Congress on Friday claimed that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, were not invited to the banquet. The party also took a swipe at Tharoor for attending the event.
Accusing the government of routinely “breaking protocols” and not adhering to democratic norms, Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, “There is no invite for both the LoPs — Mr Kharge and Mr Rahul Gandhi. This comes as a surprise, but perhaps it shouldn’t. This government is known for breaching all protocols.”
Asked about Tharoor accepting the invitation, Khera added, “Ask Mr Tharoor. If our leaders are not invited and we are, we need to question our own conscience. Politics has been played in inviting or not inviting people, which is questionable. And those who accept such an invite are also questionable.”
Tharoor, reacting earlier, had noted that there was a time when the chairperson of the External Affairs Committee was routinely invited to such banquets, but that practice “seems to have stopped some years ago.”
On Thursday, Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the government discourages visiting foreign dignitaries from meeting the Leader of Opposition due to its “insecurity”. His remarks came just hours before President Putin’s two-day visit to India.
