Shashi Tharoor Responds to Criticism Over His Praise for PM Modi and Kerala’s LDF Government
Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor addressed criticism regarding his appreciation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala.
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, Tharoor emphasized his balanced approach in politics. “For the past 16 years, my principle has been to acknowledge and commend good work—whether done by our government or another party’s government—while also criticizing when something is not done well,” he said.
“If I always praised, people wouldn’t take me seriously. If I always criticized, that too would lack credibility. In a democracy, there needs to be a balance.”
He further stated that although Modi’s Washington visit yielded positive results for India, certain unanswered questions remained.
“Why was the issue of illegal immigrants being returned to India not addressed? Did PM Modi raise it in private discussions? That remains unclear,” Tharoor questioned.
However, he welcomed the nine-month negotiation agreement on trade and tariffs between India and the US, stating it was a preferable alternative to Washington imposing unilateral tariffs, which could have harmed Indian exports.
Tharoor’s Earlier Remarks on Modi’s US Visit
On Friday, Tharoor had commented on PM Modi’s visit to the United States, saying that major concerns were addressed during the discussions. He noted that the joint press conference between Modi and US leaders indicated positive talks.
Referring to Donald Trump’s praise of Modi, he remarked, “Trump’s former defense secretary called him the greatest negotiator in the world. Yet, Trump himself admitted that PM Modi was an even better negotiator. That is a strong endorsement and something Modi can take pride in.”
Praise for Kerala’s Startup Economy Sparks Controversy
Tharoor also penned an article in a newspaper appreciating Kerala’s startup ecosystem under the LDF government. However, this did not sit well with Kerala Congress leaders.
As per Onmanorama, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leadership has submitted a letter of dissent against Tharoor to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) High Command.
Congress leader VD Satheesan also raised doubts regarding the credibility of Tharoor’s data on Kerala’s startup growth.
