From Sonia Gandhi To Shashi Tharoor, A Stern "Comply" Message

Shashi Tharoor, KV Thomas and Mani Shankar Aiyar have been invited to the CPM national seminar from April 6 to 10.

Days after he joined a meeting of Congress "rebels", Shashi Tharoor has been told firmly by party leaders in Kerala not to attend a seminar of the ruling Left next month. The instruction has been backed by Sonia Gandhi, who has asked Shashi Tharoor and other leaders to "comply with the decision of the state unit", according to sources.

Shashi Tharoor, KV Thomas and Mani Shankar Aiyar have been invited to the CPM national seminar from April 6 to 10.

The Congress in Kerala has banned anyone from attending the event.

Sources say Congress leaders from Kerala met with Sonia Gandhi at the party's parliamentary office in Delhi and complained that Mr Tharoor and the others were planning to "embarrass" the party by going for the CPM event.