Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:52pm on 05 Dec 2025,Friday India Global
Shashi Tharoor will attend the State dinner for Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge were excluded, sparking controversy. Tharoor, invited as Foreign Affairs Committee head, claimed ignorance of the invitation process. His attendance drew criticism from Congress leader Pawan Khera, who hinted at political maneuvering. The snub follows Gandhi’s charge that the government discourages opposition meetings with visiting leaders, breaking tradition upheld even under Vajpayee. Tharoor partly supported Gandhi’s view but remains at odds with Congress after praising PM Modi and criticizing family-led politics. His strained ties date back to 2022 leadership demands, fueling speculation of a BJP switch. (PC: X & India Today)
