Congress unable to keep abreast of Tharoor

Thiruvananthapuram: As though the Congress party in Kerala has not learned any lessons from Chengannur by-poll, the party is dismally lagging behind Shashi Tharoor in the controversy following his calling the BJP's prospective India as 'Hindu Pakistan'.

Even as Tharoor has been hitting hard against the extreme Hindutva postures of BJP, he seems to be running short of sufficient backers from the party.

When Tharoor's office was attacked by Yuva Morcha in protest against his 'Hindu Pakistan' speech, Congress did not show any interest in making it a political issue. Although some leaders arrived on the scene, the response ended there.

It was in Thriruvananthapuram that Tharoor made the speech in which he said that if the BJP came to power again, it will rewrite the Constitution and will convert India into a Hindu Pakistan. The pronouncement had made national headlines. But the Congress national spokesman not only did not come out in support of Tharoor, but instead commented that it would be wise for every one to use words carefully. Perhaps the Kerala leaders' cold support was influenced by this approach of the national spokesman.

At the same time, Tharoor in comments made to a private TV channel, discounted the statement of the spokesman, and said that he was not a Congress spokesman; his mention about Hindu Pakistan was not a party position. He also wished the party to discuss what he had said.

Even if the party dismisses his opinion, he would stick to his position as a writer, also pointing out his having written a book related to Hindutva.

Tharoor is seen to strike a chord with Congress rank and file for his aggressive position towards BJP. They also express the idea via social media that instead of soft Hindutva, the party should embrace the Tharoor line.

This is another aspect that discomfits the state leadership, because they assess that positions related to such issues had led to the votes of Christian, Muslim and backward communities letting the party down in Chengannur. At that time, the party's failure to take a strong stance in topics such as beef ban was also blamed.