Day after Cong chief's rebuke, Tharoor earns PM's accolades

A day after he was snubbed by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, party MP Shashi Tharoor received accolades from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his skills in public speaking, leaving political tongues wagging about Tharoor’s  growing proximity with the BJP.Modi showered praise on Tharoor while inaugurating a workshop on the Speaker’s Research Initiative (SRI) to train MPs on various subjects of global importance.

The PM said, “The Oxford debate has a huge significance. It is good that Shashi ji was there... What he spoke there reflected the sentiments of the citizens of India.”Modi pointed out that Tharoor’s speech, in which he had demanded reparation payments from the UK to India for 200 years of its colonial rule, has gone viral on YouTube.

He said that the significance of Tharoor’s speech lay in the timing and place, which many times becomes a “turning point” of events. “It is important what we leave behind at the right place. The occasion is also important,” said the PM, as the Kerala MP seated in the front row acknowledged Modi’s remarks with a smile.later, when asked by reporters to comment on Modi’s praise, he said, “I am grateful. He (Modi) was kind enough. He spoke with a large heart.”

Speaking at the function, Prime Minister exhorted MPs to air their views freely on national issues irrespective of party affiliations as he noted that the world is closely observing the decisions that are taken in India.“Howsoever big an issue may be, usually we put our views on the basis of party’s thinking and regional considerations. 

That is also important. But India has now attained a stature that the entire world closely observes our decisions,” Modi said.Emphasising the need for Parliamentarians to take a larger view of an issue, he said, “If we go with an open mind and make an effort to understand an issue without any pre-conceived notion, then we can start to see issues from a new perspective.”

Modi, while inaugurating a workshop on Speaker’s Research Initiative (SRI) to train MPs on various subjects of global importance, said both these aspects - regional considerations and global dimension - should be considered while taking decisions as these may have impact internationally.“Today we cannot decide in isolation in a globalised world...Decisions need to be taken in the context of global situation. Suddenly, gold prices may fall or there may be a particular situation in Greece. We cannot say that ‘it is happening somewhere else’. We have to see the context and assess whether there is impact on us.

“It is necessary to address our needs by combining these two aspects through the important medium of Parliament. Whatever rules or laws we make should be on the basis of these two aspects,” he said.Modi said some MPs have “mastery” over Parliamentary procedures and immediately point out rules to make their point and in this context, he praised Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy, who was present. “I do not find faults with that,” he said.“Tai Ji (Sumitra Mahajan) can keep trying, but it will not have the desired result to ensure that the House runs smoothly,” added Prime Minsiter.