Congress distances itself from Tharoor’s comments on Modi
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Congress distances itself from Tharoor’s comments on Modi
Lok Sabha member from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor’s opinion about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “energy and dynamism becoming a prime asset for India on global stage” is his personal view and doesn’t reflect the party ‘s view, the Congress said on Tuesday. Supriya Shrinate, who heads the Congress’ social media department, said the U.S. had issued a travel advisory of Level 2 and advised its women, especially, not to travel alone to India. She said such an advisory “maligns” the country and urged the government to register its protest and take up the matter at the highest level.
“That may be his [Mr. Tharoor’s] opinion but that is not the Congress party’s view. It is not the Congress view since we have presented our views with evidence and proof,” Supriya Shrinate, who heads the Congress’ social media department, told reporters.
In an opinion piece published in The Hinduon Monday, Mr. Tharoor, who had headed a parliamentary group for global outreach after the Pahalgam terror attack, lauded Mr. Modi’s approach.
Addressing a press conference here, Ms. Shrinate said the reality of India’s foreign policy was that the U.S. had issued a travel advisory of Level 2 and advised its women, especially, not to travel alone to India, citing various cases of rapes.
“It also goes on to say that various kinds of crimes, incidents of violence and terror attacks can happen in India. It very categorically mentions that American officials will need permission from the government before their travel to India… This kind of advisory is being issued for India, which will have far-reaching impact on our standing,” she said.
Ms. Shrinate said such an advisory “maligns” the country and urged the government to register its protest and take up the matter at the highest level.
“However, nothing of this kind of advisory has been issued for Pakistan, which is a terror country, housing terrorists such as Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed, Dawood Ibrahim, etc., they are being provided protection by Pakistan. On the contrary, an advisory is being issued against us while Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir is being invited to enjoy a meal with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has, in turn, hyphenated India and Pakistan,” she added.
The Congress leader said it was highly objectionable that the Indian Prime Minister and Pakistan’s Army Chief were being hyphenated. “From enforceable hugs to ‘Howdy Modi’, ‘Namaste Trump’, and ‘Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar’, to going to the U.S. uninvited. He has done everything possible, and look at what America is doing to us,” she said.
“At a time when we need large nations of the world to stand with us, America is issuing travel advisories against us and citing incidents that pertain to the rest of the world. But this really maligns us, and what is the government doing about it? Absolutely nothing. Pin drop silence like always,” Ms. Shrinate added.