Shashi Tharoor, not Rahul Gandhi, gets invited to President's banquet for Putin

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been invited to the President’s banquet being organized on Friday evening in honour of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is in India on a two-day visit, according to a report by News18.

The invite comes a day after Rahul Gandhi alleged that the Centre suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin to not meet the leaders of other parties during his India visit.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament in New Delhi, Gandhi said that it was the ‘insecurity’ on part of the government that has made them block the Opposition’s meeting with the Russia President.

"...It usually is a tradition that whoever visits from outside has a meeting with LoP (Leader of Opposition). It used to happen during the governments of Vajpayee ji, Manmohan Singh ji. This has been a tradition. But these days, foreign dignitaries or when I visit abroad, Govt suggests them to not meet the LoP. This is their policy and they do it all the time...," Gandhi was quoted as saying.

On Russian President's visit, the Congress leader added, "We have relations with everyone. LoP gives a different perspective. We too represent India. It is not just the government which does it. The government doesn't want the Opposition to meet people coming from outside...Modi ji and Foreign Ministry don't follow this norm. It is their insecurity."

The Centre also responded to Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s claim of the union government advising foreign dignitaries visiting India to not meet the LoP, saying that such meetings outside the government are up to the visiting delegation to decide.

“During a visit, MEA organises meetings for the incoming dignitary with Government officials and Government bodies. It is up to the visiting delegation to organise meetings outside the government,” sources told ANI.

“Since June 9, 2024, the following leaders have met the Leader of Opposition: Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on June 10, 2024, Prime Minister of Vietnam Pham Minh Ching on August 1, 2024, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia on August 21, 2024, Prime Minister of Mauritius Navinchandra Ramgoolam on September 16, 2025 and Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon on March 8, 2025,” they added.