Kannur/New Delhi: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor's problems with the party refused to go away with the Kerala unit sending its complaint on his praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking disciplinary action against him.
Incensed by Tharoor's remarks, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee KPCC president V M Sudheeran said that KPCC has prepared a report which has been been referred to AICC's disciplinary action committee. “It would not be proper on my part to comment on the outcome since the report is now under AICC's consideration,” he told reporters in Kannur.
As per practice, the matter will have to be decided by the three-member disciplinary action committee of AICC, comprising leaders Motilal Vora, A K Antony and Sushilkumar Shinde.
When contacted Vora said that a view can only be taken only when the committee receives the complaint or the report of the Kerala unit.
“We have yet not received the complaint so far. If it comes to us, we will see it,” he said.
Taking strong exception to his repeated praise of Modi and his initiatives like “Swachh Bharat” mission, Congress in Kerala had sought appropriate action by high command against Tharoor.
The report of the Kerala unit held that Tharoor's adulatory statements about Modi had hurt Congress workers in Kerala, who had worked sincerely and tirelessly for his victory for his victory from Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat.
Tharoor has reacted sarcastically to the move saying this would mean the state leadership would finally read what he actually wrote instead of oral summaries.
He has consistently rejected suggestions that he was moving closer to the BJP by asserting that he was a “proud Congressman” and never endorsed the “Hindutva agenda” of the BJP.
The view in the AICC is that while Tharoor had indeed jumped the gun and should have kept in mind that he holds a responsible position in the party and party interests should come first before he airs his views.
At the same time, the party views that any drastic action should be avoided as the invite by Modi to Tharoor to participate in the ‘Swachch Bharat” mission may also be a “trap” by BJP to create suspicion around its leaders.
