BJP Leader Slams Congress: ‘Why Does It Hate Shashi Tharoor?’
A political storm has erupted over India’s diplomatic outreach mission, with BJP leader Gourav Vallabh accusing the Congress party of deliberately undermining senior MP Shashi Tharoor.
Vallabh’s sharp criticism came after the Congress criticized the government for excluding its leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, from an all-party delegation. The BJP leader questioned the Congress’s stance, stating, “In Congress merit is suppressed, chamchagiri (sycophancy) and other things are promoted. Congress should clarify why it hates Tharoor so much.”
The row began when the government selected Tharoor to lead a delegation of MPs to the United States, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia. This delegation aims to brief these nations about Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism and India’s response through Operation Sindoor.
Tharoor’s Expertise and the Congress’s Response
Union Minister and West Bengal BJP president Sukanata Majumdar defended the government’s decision, suggesting that Tharoor’s selection was based on his experience and knowledge of the External Affairs Ministry. He also emphasized that it is ultimately the Prime Minister’s prerogative to choose representatives for the country.
However, the Congress claimed they had submitted four names for the delegation, including Shashi Tharoor. They stated that only Anand Sharma from their proposed list was selected. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh criticized the selection process, calling it “dishonest” and accusing the government of playing politics on matters of national interest.
Other Members of the Delegation
Besides Tharoor, the delegation comprises Congress leaders Manish Tewari, Amar Singh, and Salman Khurshid, along with representatives from other parties like the LJP-RV, JMM, TDP, BJP, Shiv Sena, and a former diplomat Taranjit Sandhu.
