Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has landed in a fresh controversy, facing severe criticism from his own party for accepting an invitation to the Presidential state dinner hosted for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The attendance has been framed by Congress leaders as an act of non-cooperation after the government allegedly snubbed top Opposition brass, including Party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, by not inviting them.
Protocol Breach or Political Game?
The core of the dispute lies in the guest list for the diplomatic banquet. According to Congress sources, the exclusion of Kharge and Gandhi breaks established democratic tradition where Leaders of the Opposition are routinely invited to meet visiting heads of state.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera publicly called out the selective nature of the invitations, stating that members should recognize the “game being played” by the Centre to bypass the official Opposition leadership. Khera implicitlyQuestioned Tharoor’s political judgment:
“Everyone’s conscience has a voice. When my leaders aren’t invited, but I am, we should understand why the game is being played… and why we shouldn’t be part of it.” Rahul Gandhi previously attributed such exclusions to the government’s “insecurity” about the Opposition providing a second perspective to foreign dignitaries.
Tharoor’s Defense: Diplomatic Duty over Party Call
Shashi Tharoor confirmed his attendance, justifying his decision on the grounds of his official position.
“I have been invited in my capacity as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs,” Tharoor explained. He noted that inviting the committee chairman for such dinners is an old, though recently lapsed, tradition, and he was honoring its resumption. While confirming his attendance, he also voiced disagreement with the government’s decision to exclude his party’s top leadership.
Tharoor’s Consistent Pro-Russia Stance
The situation is further complicated by Tharoor’s recent, often independent, comments affirming the critical importance of the India-Russia relationship:
- Praise for Modi’s Diplomacy: Tharoor publicly lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic gestures towards Putin—including receiving him at the airport—calling it an important signal of the “continuity of an important relationship with Russia.”
- Strategic Autonomy: He has repeatedly emphasized that India must preserve its “negotiating space” with global powers and maintain “independent relationships” with all countries, including Russia, affirming the relationship as “old, serious, and strong.”
- Defense & Energy Ties: Tharoor highlighted the “value of Russian friendship” in recent years, citing reliable supply of oil and gas, and the critical role of Russian defense imports (such as the S-400 system) in national security.
Internal Discord Highlights Congress Tension
The row exposes the long-standing internal tension within the Congress party between the desire for rigid party discipline and the freedom of action for senior leaders, especially those with diplomatic and international expertise. Tharoor’s decision to prioritize a parliamentary-protocol invitation—and his willingness to publicly affirm the Modi government’s positive steps in foreign policy—has placed him directly at odds with the party’s official stance of opposing the government’s selective diplomatic engagements. The incident will likely be used by critics to highlight a perceived lack of unity in the Congress ranks.