‘Like always, he speaks for himself’: Congress disowns Tharoor’s praise for L K Advani

The Congress party on Sunday formally distanced itself from comments made by senior leader Shashi Tharoor, who praised Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran L.K. Advani on his 98th birthday. Tharoor described Advani as a “true statesman” whose life of public service had been exemplary.

In a post on X, Congress media and publicity department head Pawan Khera said, “Like always, Dr Shashi Tharoor speaks for himself and the Indian National Congress outrightly dissociates itself from his most recent statement.” He added that Tharoor’s continued ability to express such views “reflects the essential democratic and liberal spirit unique to the INC.”

The controversy began after Tharoor posted birthday wishes to Advani, writing, “Wishing the venerable Shri L.K. Advani a very happy 98th birthday! His unwavering commitment to public service, his modesty and decency, and his role in shaping the trajectory of modern India are indelible.”

Following backlash from several users online, who accused Tharoor of “whitewashing” Advani’s role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, the Thiruvananthapuram MP defended his stance. “Reducing his long years of service to one episode, however significant, is unfair,” Tharoor said. He compared the BJP veteran’s career to that of Congress leaders, stating, “The totality of Nehruji's career cannot be judged by the China setback, nor Indira Gandhi's by the Emergency alone.”

This is not the first time Tharoor has praised leaders across party lines. In June, he lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic outreach following “Operation Sindoor,” a remark that also drew attention within his party.

L.K. Advani, who was awarded the Bharat Ratna earlier this year, is widely recognised for transforming the BJP into a national political force and leading the 1990 Rath Yatra that became a defining moment in Indian politics.

Shashi Tharoor’s praise for L.K. Advani has once again sparked internal debate within the Congress over his independent tone and frequent appreciation of political rivals. While Tharoor emphasised that acknowledging Advani’s long public career did not equate to endorsing all his actions, many within and outside the Congress criticised the timing and tone of his remarks.

A lawyer on X criticised Tharoor, writing, “Unleashing the ‘dragon seeds of hatred’ (to quote Khushwant Singh) is not public service.” In response, Tharoor reiterated that assessing Advani’s life based on a single episode would be unfair.

The Congress leadership, meanwhile, moved swiftly to clarify that Tharoor’s statement represented his personal views. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera’s response reflected the party’s attempt to contain any internal backlash while underscoring its commitment to internal democracy.

Advani, one of the BJP’s founding figures, remains a central figure in post-1990 Indian politics. His political journey — from the Ram Janmabhoomi movement to serving as Deputy Prime Minister under Atal Bihari Vajpayee — has had a lasting influence on India’s political landscape.

While Tharoor’s comments have been praised by some as a display of civility in politics, they have also reignited discussions about ideological consistency within the Congress.