'Appalled' at backlash over my birthday greeting to LK Advani: Shashi Tharoor
New Delhi/IBNS: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said he had been left "appalled by the vicious backlash" that followed his post, tweeting best wishes this week to senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani on his 94th birthday.
He slammed netizens saying civility has "disappeared entirely from our political discourse".
The senior Congress leader said Mahatma Gandhi taught all to respect political opponents.
In a tweet on Thursday, Tharoor wrote: "I am frankly appalled by the vicious backlash against my birthday greetings to LK Advaniji. Has civility disappeared entirely from our political discourse? Gandhiji taught us to respect and honour the humanity in our political opponents. It seems that now makes me a Sanghi sympathiser!"
I am frankly appalled by the vicious backlash against my birthday greetings toLK Advaniji. Has civility disappeared entirely from our political discourse?Gandhiji taught us to respect&honour the humanity in our political opponents. It seems that now makes me a Sanghi sympathiser!
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 11, 2021
"In fact, Gandhiji taught us to fight sin but love (and embrace) the sinner. Ahimsa is "a positive state of love... of doing good even to the evildoer". While good and evil are Gandhian terms I can't easily use (most human beings are shades of both), I deplore intolerance on either side," Tharoor said in another tweet.
In fact Gandhiji taught us to fight the sin but love(&embrace)the sinner. Ahimsa is“a positive state of love, of doing good even to the evildoer”. While good & evil are Gandhian terms I can’t easily use (most human beings are shades of both),I deplore intolerance on either side.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 11, 2021
"So yes, I intend to continue to wish LK Advani and PM Modi well on their birthdays, while opposing what they stand for politically. My 40 years of writing makes clear what I believe in. Only those who haven't read me would call me a Sanghi. My values won't be discarded for them," he concluded.
So yes, I intend to continue to wish LK Advani & @narendramodi well on their birthdays, while opposing what they stand for politically. My 40 years of writing makes clear what I believe in. Only those who haven’t read me would call me a Sanghi. My values won’t be discarded 4them.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 11, 2021
The controversy erupted after Tharoor on Monday described Advani as "a fine human being" and "a gentleman in politics" in his tweet.
"Warm wishes for a fine human being, a gentleman in politics, a leader of wide reading and great courtesy," the Congress leader wrote, adding the hashtag "#HappyBirthdayLKAdvani".
Warm wishes for a fine human being, a gentleman in politics, a leader of wide reading and great courtesy. #HappyBirthdayLKAdvani https://t.co/FSnxtrelDF
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 8, 2021
The tweet drew wide criticisms and flak as several questioned Tharoor for wishing a rival credited with the BJP's rise to prominence on the backdrop of the Ram Janmabhoomi movement in the late 80s.
Tharoor earlier wished Prime Minister Narendra Modi too on his birthday, in September, where he took the opportunity for a swipe over his government's performance.
Wishing @NarendraModi ji happy birthday & many healthy years in the service of the nation. May he be able to work more successfully in the next two, to ensure that Vikas actually dawns in our country& is truly “sab ka”& “sab ka saath”! May he create work for the Indian people too pic.twitter.com/Z6qujDHA8B
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) September 17, 2021
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.