New Delhi, March 12 In a "public letter exchange," Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar declared that he was parting ways with party colleague Shashi Tharoor, while the latter responded by criticizing Aiyar's "unwarranted" remarks.
It began with Aiyar writing a public letter to Tharoor, which was published in the Frontline magazine earlier this week.
Aiyar said he was deeply disturbed by Tharoor's comments on a TV channel on March 6, regarding Israel's "illegal and immoral" actions against Iran, in collaboration with the US and other Western countries.
"I was so disturbed that I couldn't sleep and had to write this public letter to you," Aiyar wrote.
Aiyar claimed that he had put his political career at risk by not only voting for Tharoor in the election for the post of Congress president, even though he knew Tharoor would likely lose, but also by writing in The Indian Express the next day, stating that Mallikarjun Kharge should respect Tharoor's democratic right to stand against him, despite the support Tharoor had from both the Gandhi family and the remnants of the G-23 group.
"I argued that Kharge should give Tharoor a respectable position within the Congress, as befits a mature political party, so that he could fully utilize his talents. As a result, the Gandhis and Kharge have refused to meet me. Nevertheless, I felt vindicated on moral grounds," Aiyar said in his "public letter to Shashi Tharoor on moral grounds".
Aiyar said he was shocked by Tharoor's views on the Supreme Court's decision allowing menstruating women to enter the Sabarimala temple.
"I was astounded that a well-educated, modern-minded St. Stephen's graduate and postgraduate from an Ivy League college, could hold such backward views, supporting a discriminatory practice that punishes women for their natural bodily functions," Aiyar said.
"But those were clear signals that you were not one of us. Now, your strong empathy with a regime that promotes communal malice has changed that," Aiyar said in his piece.
In response, Tharoor wrote a public letter that was published by NDTV on Thursday, in which he said disagreement is a hallmark of a thriving democracy, but questioning a colleague's motives or patriotism simply because they adopt a different approach to foreign policy does little to strengthen public debate.
"While you are entitled to your views, your recent public assessment of my positions (and my character) demands a clear response," Tharoor said.
"I have always approached international affairs from a clear nationalist perspective, placing India's interests, security, and global standing at the heart of every discussion. Recognizing geopolitical realities and weighing the consequences for India's economy and strategic position is not 'moral surrender'; it is responsible statecraft," Tharoor said.
India's diplomacy has historically balanced principle with pragmatism, he argued.
Tharoor said Aiyar's allegations regarding his foreign travels are baseless.
"Aside from Operation Sindoor, where I was part of and led an all-party delegation, all my foreign travels are undertaken in a personal capacity. They are neither requested, organised, nor financed by the government. I receive far more international invitations than I can possibly accept, none of which have anything to do with my position as Committee Chairman... To suggest I am 'pleasing the PM' to secure travel is a baseless slur," he said.
As for Sabarimala, Tharoor said he is slightly amused that after attacking him for allegedly heretical views, Aiyar is now criticizing him on this issue for going along with the Party's considered stand on the matter.
"I also took the trouble to explain my position at the time at length, but clearly you have not bothered to digest it," Tharoor added.
"I am grateful to you for having supported me in the AICC Presidential election. It was precisely the stand of principle you say you would wish to applaud, so I am sorry you now regret it. I, too, supported you very strongly with the 'high command' of the party, especially when you were suspended from its membership. I have no regrets that that injustice has been reversed," Tharoor said.
It was, nonetheless, disingenuous of you to announce a parting of the ways at the end of your letter, he said, slamming Aiyar.
"The parting had already come in the course of your many gratuitous comments about my character ever since I spoke up on Operation Sindoor. I have refrained from reacting publicly so far, but your recent comments leave me no choice," Tharoor signed off.
