Shashi Tharoor
NEW DELHI: Clearly riled up, Congress on Sunday “dissociated” itself from party senior member Shashi Tharoor’s recent statement praising veteran BJP neta L K Advani and made it clear that “like always, he speaks for himself”. He continues to do so as a Congress MP and CWC member, reflecting Congress’s democratic and liberal spirit, the party said. Congress remarks came on Sunday after the Thiruvananthapuram MP, reacting to criticism over his birthday greetings for Advani on Saturday, said reducing the veteran BJP neta’s long years of service to one episode, however significant, is unfair. Tharoor also said when the totality of Jawaharlal Nehru’s career cannot be judged by the China setback, and Indira Gandhi’s by Emergency alone, he believes “we should extend the same courtesy to Advani ji”. Congress spokesman Pawan Khera on X said, “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 said. The controversy erupted after Tharoor on Saturday wished Advani on his 98th birthday. “His unwavering commitment to public service, his modesty and decency, and his role in shaping the trajectory of modern India are indelible. A true statesman whose life of service has been exemplary,” Tharoor said on X. In response, 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.” “Agreed, but reducing his long years of service to one episode, however significant, is also unfair. The totality of Nehruji’s career cannot be judged by the China setback, nor Indira Gandhi’s by the Emergency alone. I believe we should extend the same courtesy to Advaniji,” Tharoor responded. Citing Tharoor’s remarks, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said, “After his recent smoking gun article on how the Nehru Gandhi family hijacked political leadership as birthright and how dynasty poses a serious threat to democracy, now Shashi Tharoor has blown the lid of Nehru’s stark incompetence in handling the China war and Indira Gandhi’s brutal authoritarianism imposing Emergency, both of which are telling reminders to posterity.” To Khera’s post, both Kesavan and BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused Congress of “intolerance”. “Congress issues fatwa and slams Tharoor for wishing Advani ji on his birthday. This is INC – Indira wali Nazi Congress. Such hatred that even common political courtesy is now a cardinal sin and blasphemy,” Poonawalla said. Earlier this month, Tharoor had stoked controversy calling “dynastic politics” a “grave threat” to Indian democracy and said it is time that India traded “dynasty for meritocracy”.
