'Why did Shashi Tharoor join Congress? why didn't he express this opinion even within committees?'

KOCHI: Senior Congress leader P.J. Kurien has come out against MP Shashi Tharoor for his harsh criticism of the Emergency. Taking to his Facebook page, Kurien questioned why Tharoor, who is now making such strong statements against the Emergency and Indira Gandhi, chose to join the Congress party in the first place. Kurien also questioned why Tharoor never raised such opinions even within party committees earlier.

Kurien's Facebook post

Mr. Shashi Tharoor

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As an individual, Mr. Shashi Tharoor has every right to hold and express any opinion regarding the Emergency. He has now harshly criticised Indira Gandhi and the Emergency. But if his views were this severe, why did he join the Congress party?

He has served as a Congress MP and Minister.

Why didn’t he express this opinion even within party committees back then? The reason is clear. At that time, the Congress was in power. Being close to the Congress meant access to the fruits of power. Today, the situation is reversed. The Congress is in opposition, and Narendra Modi is in power. Now, to gain something, one must praise Modi and insult Indira Gandhi and the Congress. The political standards and ideals of a global citizen may be impressive — a fine example indeed.