New Delhi, Dec. 5 -- Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has confirmed his acceptance of an invitation to the state banquet this evening at Rashtrapati Bhavan, hosted by President Droupadi Murmu in honour of visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, Tharoor's presence stands in stark contrast to the notable absence of the party's top leadership. Both Congress President and Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, were not invited to the high-profile diplomatic function, triggering a political controversy.
Clarifying the basis of his attendance, Tharoor emphasized the non-political nature of his invitation, stating, "Yes, I hav...