Why Rahul Gandhi And Kharge Were Not Invited To Putin’s State Dinner, While Tharoor Got The Surprise Pass

New Delhi: A special state dinner is being held at Rashtrapati Bhavan to honour Russian President Vladimir Putin. But this time, the guest list is in news more than the event. Congress sources say that Shashi Tharoor got the invitation. He himself confirmed that he will attend. But the big question is why the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Congress Chief Mallikarjun Kharge have not been invited. And the timing of this decision has made the controversy bigger.

Why Rahul Gandhi Was Not Invited?

Rahul Gandhi is the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha. Traditionally, such leaders always meet important foreign guests. But Rahul Gandhi says the Modi government has broken that tradition. He said earlier, whenever foreign Presidents or Prime Ministers came, they met the Opposition too. But now things have changed. Rahul called it unfair and said that Opposition also represents the voice of India. He said his viewpoint should also reach foreign dignitaries.

What Did Rahul Gandhi Say Against The Government?

Rahul Gandhi spoke to reporters inside Parliament. He said foreign leaders are not allowed to meet him. He blamed the government and the External Affairs Ministry. According to him, this never happened before 2014. Rahul said India must show its democracy fully to the world. Foreign leaders should get a chance to hear every side, not just the government. His comments came just one day before the dinner invite news came out.

Why Did Kharge Also Not Get The Invitation?

Mallikarjun Kharge is the National President of Congress. He too was not invited. Congress circles say it clearly shows that the government wants to keep the main Opposition away from major diplomatic events. They say the message is political, not personal. Leaving out both Rahul and Kharge from such a high-profile dinner has added fuel to political discussion. Congress says this is disrespect to parliamentary norms.

Then Why Only Shashi Tharoor Was Invited?

Here comes the twist that everyone is talking about. Shashi Tharoor, a senior Congress leader and MP, received the invitation from the government. Political experts say this is a “sweet gift” or a political message by the government. Tharoor recently praised India’s foreign policy a few times. Many believe the government wants to show that it can ignore top Opposition bosses but still engage with selected leaders. The buzz in political circles has become even louder.

What Is Shashi Tharoor’s Response?

Shashi Tharoor has confirmed the invitation. He has said he will surely attend President Putin’s dinner. He did not make any political remark. But his yes has created a new talking point. Some say he is playing a balanced role. Some say he might be getting closer to the ruling establishment in foreign policy matters. But Tharoor himself has kept silence on any political meaning of this invitation.

What Does This Decision Mean For Indian Politics?

This one change in guest list has become an entire debate. It is not just about dinner. It is about political respect, protocol and message. When the President of Russia visits India, the whole world watches. And in such a moment, absence of the Opposition’s top faces becomes a strong signal. Congress says the government wants to show the Opposition as weak. The government has not commented officially. But the conversation has already reached every newsroom.