Tharoor (PTI file photo)
NEW DELHI: BJP on Monday slammed Congress after the party distanced itself from Shashi Tharoor’s praise for veteran BJP leader L K Advani.BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan asked, “Does INC now stand for ‘Intolerant National Congress’? The party cannot even tolerate basic civility and courtesies being extended in public life.”
Kesavan further said there was “deep-rooted insecurity” in the “Congress first” family and the Nehru-Gandhi lineage as the driving force behind the party’s current meltdown. He added that Tharoor was not alone in voicing such sentiments. “Many Congress leaders feel stifled and suffocated under the undeserved leadership of the ‘Congress first’ family. The Congress party only possesses an emergency prejudiced, intolerant mindset,” Kesavan said.BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also hit out at the Congress, alleging that the party was showing its “Emergency-era mindset.” He said, “The Congress should rename itself from the ‘Indian National Congress’ to the ‘Indira Nazi Congress’ because this reflects Indira Gandhi’s Emergency-style behaviour. For a politically correct birthday wish extended to stalwart Bharat Ratna Advani by Shashi Tharoor, the party has effectively issued a ‘fatwa’ against him. This shows Congress’s intolerance. They can’t even stand their own MP extending political courtesy.” The controversy started when Tharoor wished Advani on his birthday on Saturday, calling him a “true statesman whose life of service has been exemplary.” The post drew immediate backlash online, with critics accusing Tharoor of whitewashing Advani’s role in divisive politics. Lawyer Sanjay Hegde, in an indirect reference to Advani’s role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, said, “Sorry, Mr Tharoor, unleashing the dragon seeds of hatred (to quote Khushwant Singh) in this country is not public service.”Responding to the criticism, Tharoor said, “Reducing his long years of service to one episode, however significant, is also unfair.” He compared this to Congress leaders, saying, “The totality of Nehruji’s career cannot be judged by the China setback, nor Indira Gandhi’s by the Emergency alone. The same courtesy should be extended to Advani ji.” Congress quickly distanced itself. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera said on X, “Like always, Dr Shashi Tharoor speaks for himself and Congress outrightly dissociates itself from his most recent statement.” “That he continues to do so as a Congress MP and CWC member reflects the essential democratic and liberal spirit unique to INC,” he added. This is not the first time Tharoor has praised leaders across party lines, which has occasionally put him at odds with Congress. Earlier this month, Tharoor had stoked controversy by calling “dynastic politics” a “grave threat” to Indian democracy and said it is time that India traded “dynasty for meritocracy”.