The Congress in Kerala on Tuesday decided to seek an explanation from Shashi Tharoor, MP, who has come under attack for his remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be praised for doing the right things.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP had said the other day that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be praised whenever he says or does the right thing. This infuriated senior leaders of the Congress in the State which prompted the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee to issue a show cause notice to Tharoor on Tuesday.
But the lawmaker stood his ground and posted a message in social media requesting his colleagues in the party to understand his sentiments. “I've been a strong critic of the Modi government, & i hope a constructive one. My staunch defence of inclusive values& constitutional principles has won me 3 elections. I urge my fellow Congressmen to respect my approach even when they don't agree with it,” said the MP.
What made things worse was a public statement issued by K Muraleedharan, member of parliament from Vadakara who is also the son of late chief minister K Karunakaran. “Those who want to praise Modi should join the BJP,” said Muraleedharan who is known for his acerbic tongue. But it vitiated into a spat as Tharoor responded y questioning the competence of Muraleedharan to criticise him. “ The individual who asked me to join the BJP had returned to the party only eight years ago. The less I speak the better,” said Tharoor. Muraleedharan, who had quit as MLA representing Vattiyoorkkavu assembly constituency after he was elected as MP , said that the services of Tharoor were not required during the upcoming by-election to the assembly constituency.