Tharoor second Kerala leader to be penalised for praising Modi
By removing MP Shashi Tharoor as party spokesman for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress has proved that it is as intolerant as the CPI(M) is towards anyone endorsing the actions and ideas of Modi. The CPI(M) had in 2009 expelled one of its MPs, AP Abdullakutty, for praising the development model set by Modi in Gujarat as then Chief Minister.
At the same time, the Congress party in Kerala, on whose recommendation party president Sonia Gandhi removed Tharoor as spokesman, welcomed the high command's decision terming it as "appropriate" though most Kerala PCC leaders had not foreseen the possibility of the AICC taking such a decision this quickly.
Observers even say that the intolerance of Congress towards positive responses to Modi and his programmes is worse than that of the Marxists. Before expelling him, the CPI(M) had given Abdullakutty the opportunity to explain his position on why he chose to praise the Modi model of development but Tharoor has now complained that he was not given such an opportunity.
It is said that there were several similarities between the actions and positions adopted by Abdullakutty and Tharoor with regard to Modi. Both had made it amply clear that they were supporting specific ideas, actions or achievements of Modi while they were in sharp disagreement with the BJP's alleged Hindutwa agenda.
The CPI(M) had served a show-cause notice on Abdullakutty on January 13, 2009 for his pro-Modi statement in Dubai. Calling for an end to unnecessary hartals, Abdullakutty said, "Kerala should take lessons from Modi in developing the State. Under him, Gujarat is far ahead of other States in attracting investors and giving them the required assistance."
In his reply to the notice, Abdullakutty said he gave full marks to Modi's development model though he was not in agreement with his Hindutva agenda. However, an irate CPI(M) leadership expelled him on March 7, 2009. Without losing time, Abdullakutty resigned as MP and joined the Congress which made him an MlA in a bypoll which took place a month later.
Observers are of the opinion that Tharoor's endorsement of the Swachchh Bharat Abhiyan was equivalent to Abdullakutty's praise for Modi's development model. In the Twitter treat in which Tharoor said he was honoured to accept the Prime Minister's invitation to join the Abhiyan, he had clearly stated why he would join it: "Clean India is 4 all."
When the Kerala PCC decided to submit a report to the AICC demanding action against him for praising Modi, Tharoor had said, like Abdullakutty had done in his reply to the CPI(M) notice, "Being receptive to specific statements and actions of BJP leaders does not remotely imply acceptance of that party's core Hindutva agenda."
Meanwhile, leaders of Kerala's Congress party, in which Tharoor did not have many close friends, seemed happy - or at least a lot relieved - at Sonia Gandhi's decision to remove Tharoor as party spokesman. "The KPCC views the AICC decision as absolutely appropriate. We welcome it," said State Congress president VM Sudheeran.
KPCC vice-president MM Hassan, one of the first leaders to demand action against Tharoor, said, "We welcome the high command's decision. It may serve the purpose of ensuring an end to Tharoor's tendency to praise Modi." KPCC general secretary M liju, another anti-Tharoor leader, said, "The AICC action has proved that there was substance in the KPCC's stand."