MP Shashi Tharoor is kept at an arm’s distance in the Congress, but he was Modi’s first choice in leading a diplomatic offensive against Pakistan.
(Shankar Raj)
Some call him the Congress Party’s ‘Dennis the Menace’, others describe him as a Mark Twain of the party for either the positive mischief he can generate or the frankness with which he airs his views. Whenever he steps into the limelight, which is often, he generates a seismic event in the Congress. The Congress High Command keeps him at a distance, is averse in giving him a post and does not recognise his status. But from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Opposition leaders, Tharoor is viewed as an asset and intellectual who is known to articulate his views with clarity and flourish.
This time Tharoor was pushed into the limelight after Operation Sindoor. When the MP from Thiruvananthapuram made a statement on India’s tactical strike against Pakistan post the Pahalgam terror attacks, calling the operation as precise and well-planned, the Grand Old Party gathered enough ammo to sustain a strike against him to make it the headlines amid conflict times!
He was promptly named to head the first delegation abroad in a diplomatic reach over Pakistan’s nefarious designs.
Cong Caught Unawares
Caught unawares, as always. the Congress party was upset as the Centre did not accept its list. The Congress had nominated former Union Minister Anand Sharma, the party’s Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain and Lok Sabha MP Raja Brar after the government asked for the names of four MPs for the all-party delegation for the diplomatic outreach post the conflict with Pakistan.
However, the government nominated Tharoor and he readily accepted the responsibility. This led to a conflict of a different kind.
According to sources in the BJP national leadership, it was Prime Minister Modi who insisted that Tharoor lead the first delegation. When Union Minister Kiren Rijiju called Tharoor conveyed this to the MP that since he is the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs and had worked in the US for many years, he should lead the delegation, he accepted it with no hesitation.
Said Tharoor: “How can an MP or an Indian citizen say ‘No’ to this responsibility? Let the high command take its decision. Certain leaders are trying to silence me and other working committee members are trying to hijack the organisation.”
He added that it would not be easy to humiliate him. “I have my own value,” he added. “The government has invited me after consultation with my party. I have also informed my party about my decision. Let the party decide. Politics is relevant only if there is a nation. When the government asks the representatives of political parties to work for the nation, I am bound to act. If the government asks its citizens to act for the nation, what should be the answer of a citizen?” he asked.
A Responsibility
Tharoor said that the government has invited him as he is the chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. “It is the Speaker who had appointed me as the chairperson. The government has told me that it is my responsibility to be part of this delegation as leader. And I accepted it. In my knowledge, though I was not in India at the time of the Mumbai terrorist attack of 2008, the then Manmohan Singh government had also sent a delegation of MPs to various countries. When a terrorist attack happens, it is good that we all stand united and speak in one voice. I think it is good for Bharath. The Congress leadership knows about my ability and inability. The media can ask about it. The party leadership has the power to take a position. However, this is a government delegation. Hence, the government’s opinion will be different from that of a political party,” he added.
But not so strangely, former Kerala party chief K Sudhakaran questioned the party’s decision to exclude the name of Tharoor and said it was akin to “insulting” him.
Sudhakaran said that Tharoor was a competent leader and a loyal member of the party and therefore, in his view, it was not right to sideline the Thiruvananthapuram MP.
Marked Difference
Moreover, the marked difference in the response of two UDF allies — the Congress and the Muslim League — to their leaders being named to the all-party delegation, to explain India’s case against cross-border terrorism to the world, has kicked up fresh speculation.
While the Congress, which was in a spot over Tharoor’s selection, had accused the Modi government of diversionary tactics, the IUML wholeheartedly welcomed the Centre’s move to induct its representative E T Mohammed Basheer, terming it a major recognition. This position has once again triggered questions over League’s difference of opinion growing in various issues from state level to national level subjects.
A Masterstroke
When CWC member Tharoor was picked to head one of the delegations, it was termed a masterstroke. And the Modi government’s move of inducting an IUML representative is being termed as equally significant. It is being seen as at once a message to Muslims and extremist fringes in the country and across the border.
Amid a political row over Tharoor’s inclusion in the Union government’s delegation, CPM Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas has come out in strong defence of the Congress leader, calling him a “default option” for such international outreach efforts.
John Brittas, who is part of the multi-party delegation travelling abroad to highlight India’s concerns on terrorism following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, said there should be no questions raised about the eligibility or capability of Shashi Tharoor.
“Casting aspersions on the efficacy or the integrity or the efficiency or eligibility of a member like Shashi Tharoor should have been avoided. I know him personally. Both of us are in the MEA standing committee and he was an international diplomat even before joining the Congress party. His service should be used by the country, and he should have been a default option. I don’t have any doubt about it,” said Brittas.
Incidentally, the CPM opposes the Congress in Kerala. However, Brittas noted that national interest must take precedence over political differences.
He added that the effort was a form of public diplomacy aimed at clearly distinguishing India’s position from that of Pakistan. “When it comes to international delegations like this, we are glad to be part of it because basically we are trying to push the agenda of India,” he said.
Cong Viewpoint
However, the Congress viewpoint is that Tharoor should have asked the party’s permission before agreeing to take the plunge. And not only that, his immediately accepting and taking it as an honour to be nominated to lead the delegation, irked the party which felt he should have also tagged the party in his social media post.
Even as Congress is in a huddle with the government over Operation Sindoor, the Tharoor episode has left the party in a muddle. The party is in deep dilemma now as if it acts against Tharoor or even issues a notice against him, it would give enough ammo to the BJP to attack the GoP.
Also, the Tharoor episode has put the Congress in bad light as on one hand it had given complete support to the Centre on its fight against terror and on the Tharoor issue the party is showing its unhappiness. In general, it does not quite put the Congress in a comfortable position.
Out of Place
Tharoor as a politician is a bit out of place in Indian politics. Tharoor doesn’t quite fit into the stereotypical Congress neta type cast. The suave and articulate former United Nations diplomat-turned-MP is a near-extinct species in Indian politics, especially in Congress where loyalty and proximity to the First Family only matters.
The Congress is caught on the horns of a big dilemma. As a Malayalam saying goes: it is so sweet that you cannot spit it out and, at the same time, it is so bitter that you cannot swallow it.
But one thing for sure. Kerala loves football and Tharoor has proven that he cannot be kicked around. And like the world cup football, there are groups in Kerala where young Congress workers are forced to go through. There is the ‘I Group, A Group, V Group – ‘I’ standing for Indira, A for Antony and the latest entrant is the V group headed by Sonia Gandhi’s Man Friday – Venugopal.
Many bright and brilliant Congress workers get eliminated in the Group rounds. But Tharoor made a big difference. He stormed Kerala with no baggage called Groups. He refused to be part of any group and was averse in creating a new group. This made a big difference. He has his own stand, fierce fully independent and, needless to say, highly articulate.
(The author is a senior journalist)