Putin Dines at Rashtrapati Bhavan: Opposition Leaders Excluded

Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a dinner hosted by Indian President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday. Notably, key Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, were not invited, leading to discontent within the Congress party. In contrast, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor received an invitation and attended the event.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary, confirmed the absence of the two leaders on social media platform X, stating, “There has been speculation whether the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha have been invited for tonight’s official dinner in honour of President Putin. The two LoPs have not been invited.”

This development follows recent comments from Rahul Gandhi, who criticized the Modi government for breaking with tradition by preventing opposition representation at the meeting. He described the government’s actions as indicative of its “insecurity” and a departure from past protocols.

Congress leader Pawan Khera expressed surprise at the invitation extended to Tharoor. He remarked, “It’s quite surprising that an invitation was sent and the invitation was accepted also. Everyone’s conscience has a voice. When my leaders aren’t invited, but I am, we should understand why the game is being played, who is playing the game, and why we shouldn’t be part of it.”

Strengthening Bilateral Relations

During the dinner, discussions centered around reaffirming the partnership between India and Russia. Both nations committed to enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation to tackle issues such as terrorism, extremism, transnational organized crime, money laundering, terrorist financing, and illicit drug trafficking.

Following the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit, a joint statement was issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Putin, expressing their strong condemnation of recent terrorist attacks in both countries. The statement specifically referenced the attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025, and the Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow on March 22, 2024.

The two leaders emphasized their commitment to preventing terrorism in all its forms, including the movement of terrorists across borders and the financing networks that support them. They condemned these acts with strong language, signaling a united front against shared threats.

In summary, the dinner at Rashtrapati Bhavan not only highlighted diplomatic relations between India and Russia but also showcased the growing tensions within India’s political landscape, particularly regarding representation and tradition in diplomatic engagements.