Ramesh measured, Venugopal rebuffs: Is Congress high command angry over Tharoor’s Kerala remarks?
New Delhi: The Congress high command has not officially reacted to Shashi Tharoor’s remarks on Kerala’s industrial sector, but statements from senior leaders suggest clear discontent. While Jairam Ramesh subtly distanced the party from Tharoor’s views, K.C. Venugopal openly rejected them, raising questions about the leadership’s frustration over the issue.
Ramesh’s indirect message
Without naming Tharoor, Jairam Ramesh said in a social media post that the Congress is the only party with "absolute freedom of speech as well as freedom after speech." He added that individual opinions do not always reflect the party’s collective stance, subtly reinforcing that Tharoor’s remarks were not in line with the party’s official position.
Venugopal outrightly disowns Tharoor’s statement
Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal was more direct, rejecting Tharoor’s remarks and asserting that Kerala’s industrial sector is in decline.
Venugopal asserted that Kerala’s industrial sector is struggling, with key industries like coir and fisheries showing no notable growth. He highlighted the worsening condition of the cashew industry and Kerala State Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (KSDP), pointing out that workers from these sectors had approached him seeking financial assistance.
He accused the Kerala government of using Tharoor’s statement as a convenient shield to evade responsibility. "The reality is that the state’s industrial sector is stagnating, especially small-scale and traditional industries," Venugopal said. He challenged the industries minister (P Rajeev) to clarify whether coir and cashew workers are currently receiving adequate jobs and wages.
Other Congress leaders have also opposed Tharoor’s statement, aligning with Venugopal’s criticism of the Kerala government’s handling of the industrial sector.
Tharoor’s article praising Kerala’s industrial growth
The debate stems from an article written by Shashi Tharoor, which was published in an English newspaper on Friday. In his article, Tharoor praised Kerala’s industrial sector, stating that the government-led by the Communist Party is achieving impressive results, particularly in entrepreneurial growth and sustainable development.
Tharoor’s praise has created a rift within the Congress. While Satheesan and other state Congress leaders like Ramesh Chennithala have criticised the government’s performance, Congress leader K Muraleedharan also weighed in, stating that Tharoor’s views do not align with the Congress position in Kerala. “What Tharoor said is not the stand of the Congress in Kerala," Muraleedharan remarked.