Shashi Tharoor’s Advani Praise Sparks Congress Clarification

In a swift move, the Congress party has publicly distanced itself from the recent commendations of Lal Krishna Advani by its Lok Sabha MP, Shashi Tharoor. Pawan Khera, head of the Congress’s media department, issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter) asserting that Tharoor ‘speaks for himself’ and that the party ‘outrightly dissociates itself’ from his latest comments. Khera further remarked that Tharoor’s consistent practice of making independent statements reflects the unique democratic and liberal ethos of the Congress. Tharoor’s praise for the former Deputy Prime Minister occurred on Advani’s 98th birthday. He shared a picture with Advani, acknowledging his role in shaping modern India. This statement faced pushback from lawyer Sanjay Hegde, who pointed to Advani’s association with the Rath Yatra and the events leading to the Babri Masjid’s fall. Tharoor, however, countered that reducing Advani’s long tenure in public service, which culminated in the Bharat Ratna award this year, to just the Ram Janambhoomi movement would be an unfair assessment. He argued for a more holistic view, akin to evaluating other prominent leaders whose careers might be marked by both successes and setbacks. This situation echoes previous occasions where Tharoor’s public statements, including his views on dynastic politics, have necessitated a clarification from the Congress party.