BJP Defends Exclusion of Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge from Putin Banquet, Calls Congress 'Drama'

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has responded to allegations by Congress leaders that they were not invited to a banquet with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Leaders of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, were reportedly excluded from the guest list. BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia dismissed the allegations, stating that it is up to foreign dignitaries to decide who they wish to meet. He pointed out that Rahul Gandhi has met several foreign leaders in the past, including ousted Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina and the Prime Minister of New Zealand. However, Congress leaders have criticized the exclusion of Kharge and Gandhi, with some accusing the government of breaking protocols and not believing in democratic principles. The Congress's Shashi Tharoor was invited to the banquet, which he described as warm and engaging. The controversy has sparked a debate over the role of the President's office in hosting foreign dignitaries and the implications for India's democratic institutions. The BJP's defense of the exclusion has been met with criticism from opposition parties, who argue that it is petty and partisan. The incident has raised questions about the relationship between the government and the opposition, and whether the President's office is being used to further partisan interests. The BJP's response has been seen as an attempt to deflect criticism and downplay the significance of the exclusion. The controversy is likely to continue, with opposition parties calling for greater transparency and accountability in the President's office. The incident has also sparked a wider debate about the role of the opposition in Indian democracy and the need for greater cooperation and dialogue between the government and the opposition.