Congress Distances Itself From Tharoor’s Praise of BJP’s Advani
The Indian National Congress has officially distanced itself from senior leader Shashi Tharoor’s birthday tribute to BJP veteran LK Advani, stating he “speaks for himself” in a public rebuke.
Key Developments
- Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera publicly dissociated party from Tharoor’s remarks
- Tharoor called Advani a “true statesman” with “unwavering commitment to public service”
- This marks another instance of Tharoor causing internal party discomfort with his views
The Controversial Birthday Greeting
Tharoor sparked the controversy when he extended birthday wishes to the former Deputy Prime Minister on his 98th birthday, praising his role in shaping modern India.
“Wishing the venerable Shri L.K. Advani a very happy 98th birthday! His unwavering commitment to public service, his modesty & decency, and his role in shaping the trajectory of modern India are indelible,” Tharoor posted on X.
Congress’s Swift Response
As criticism mounted online, Congress leadership moved quickly to clarify its position. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera wrote on X:
“Like always, Dr Shashi Tharoor speaks for himself, and the Indian National Congress outrightly dissociates itself from his most recent statement.”
Khera added that Tharoor’s continued presence in the party’s Working Committee reflects the “essential democratic and liberal spirit unique to the INC.”
Mixed Reactions and Historical Context
Advani, one of BJP’s founding figures and key architect of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, was awarded the Bharat Ratna earlier this year. However, Tharoor’s remarks drew strong criticism from some quarters.
Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde responded to Tharoor’s post, writing: “Unleashing the ‘dragon seeds of hatred’ in this country is NOT public service,” alluding to Advani’s controversial Rath Yatra that preceded the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition.
Tharoor’s Defense
Defending his position, Tharoor argued that political legacies shouldn’t be defined by single events.
“Reducing his long years of service to one episode, however significant, is 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,” he said.
Broader Political Context
Earlier in the week, Tharoor had also drawn attention for an article criticizing dynastic politics across party lines, where he wrote: “It is high time India traded dynasty for meritocracy.”
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla suggested the article revealed Tharoor’s “disappointment with Rahul Gandhi,” while Congress MP Udit Raj defended political dynasties, comparing them to patterns in other professions.
This incident follows Tharoor’s earlier remarks describing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “undoubtedly the most dominant political figure in the country,” which had also caused discomfort within Congress ranks.
