Tharoor: Opposition leaders should have been at Putin banquet

• Shashi Tharoor stated it "would have been a nice thing" if opposition leaders attended the President's banquet for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
• Tharoor attended as chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, regretting the absence of some Congress leaders and not wanting to reject the President's invitation.
• Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain criticized the President for not inviting Leaders of Opposition to the state dinner, urging bipartisan engagement.
• The government clarified that MEA organizes meetings with government officials, and visiting delegations arrange other meetings.
• Sources confirmed several foreign leaders have met the Leader of Opposition since June 2024, countering claims of exclusion.

Why It Matters: It highlights concerns over excluding opposition from state foreign policy engagements.