Congress on Friday claimed that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge have not been invited to the state banquet organized today at Rashtrapati Bhavan in honor of Russian President Vladimir Putin. At present there is no reaction from the government on the claim of the main opposition party.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh posted on No, both the leaders of the opposition have not been invited.
Party’s media department head Pawan Kheda took a dig at Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for his decision to attend the banquet and said that ‘if we were there, we would have listened to the voice of conscience.’ He also said that those who accept this invitation come under the scanner.
Kheda said, ‘The leaders of the opposition of both the houses have not been invited. This is surprising, but it should not be surprising in this government because this government is known for violating all protocols.
He alleged that the government does not believe in democratic values. When asked about Tharoor’s decision to attend the banquet, Kheda said, ‘You ask him. Had we been there, we would have definitely listened to the voice of our conscience. The manner in which this invitation has been given comes under question and the person who is accepting the invitation also comes under question.
Earlier, Tharoor told reporters that he has been invited to the banquet as the head of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee and he will attend it.