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25-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Shashi Tharoor criticises Kerala government's ‘misplaced generosity' in sending Turkey aid in 2023
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday alleged that the Kerala government displayed 'misplaced generosity' by giving financial aid to earthquake-hit Turkey in 2023. His remark led to sharp responses from leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the ruling party in Kerala. Tharoor's comments came in the backdrop of Ankara's support for Islamabad during heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, and amid reports that Pakistan used Turkish-made drones during the conflict. The Congress MP on Friday referred to a report noting that the Kerala government had sanctioned Rs 10 crore as financial assistance to Turkey after the 2023 earthquake and said: 'I hope the Govt of Kerala reflects on its misplaced generosity, after seeing Turkey's behaviour two years later. Not to mention that the people of Wayanad [just to take one Kerala example] could have used those ten crores far better.' Tharoor was referring to a series of landslides triggered by heavy rains in Wayanad in July 2024, which left over 400 dead. The landslides took place a year-and-a-half after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023, which killed over 50,000 persons and injured over 1.2 lakh. I hope the Govt of Kerala reflects on its misplaced generosity, after seeing Turkey's behaviour two years later! Not to mention that the people of Wayanad (just to take one Kerala example) could have used those ten crores far better.... — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 23, 2025 Responding to Tharoor's remark, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas said that while he had great regard for the Congress MP, his comments were symptoms of 'selective amnesia'. 'It is as amusing [and] puzzling why he had to belittle Kerala when he knows very well the Modi govt itself had launched Operation Dost to help Turkey,' Brittas said. 'Kerala bashing is unwarranted.' Under Operation Dost, the Indian government had sent relief material worth over Rs 7 crore to Turkey and Syria. India had also sent three teams of the National Disaster Response Force to Turkey, as well as personnel and equipment to set up a field hospital. Hve great regards for Shashi Tharoor. But these comments are symptoms of selective amnesia. It is as amusing n puzzling why he had to belittle Kerala when he knows very well the Modi govt itself had launched Operation Dost to help Turkey. Kerala bashing is unwarranted. — John Brittas (@JohnBrittas) May 24, 2025 In response to Tharoor's criticism of the Kerala government, state Finance Minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader KN Balagopal also said that the financial assistance to Turkey was not a case of misplaced generosity, The Indian Express reported. 'At the time of a major disaster, we had to take a humane approach,' Balagopal said. 'The aid was handed over to Turkey through the Indian Ministry of External Affairs [MEA]. It is wrong to club that gesture of 2023 with the border crisis of 2025.' Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Tharoor is leading a delegation of MPs to the United States, Brazil and several other countries to put forward New Delhi's stand on the conflict. Brittas is also part of a delegation headed to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Mint
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Shashi Tharoor slams Kerala govt's ‘misplaced generosity' of ₹10 cr aid to Turkey in 2023 amid its support to Pakistan
At the center of media attention over his key role in the government's Operation Sindoor delegation to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil and the United States amid Congress unease, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has now hit out at the Kerala government for its aid to Turkey during the 2023 earthquake. For the unversed, the ties between India and Turkey took a hit as Ankara extended support to Pakistan during the New Delhi-Islamabad conflict following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). In fact, Turkey also helped Pakistan with arms and weapons. During the conflict, hundreds of drones Pakistan used to breach India's air defence system – though unsuccessfully – were given to Islamabad by Turkey. Referring to the Kerala government's ₹ 10 crore aid to Turkey after the 2023 earthquake, Shashi Tharoor said, 'I hope the Govt of Kerala reflects on its misplaced generosity, after seeing Turkey's behaviour two years later!' Shashi Tharoor also said that Wayanad could have used the money which was sent to Turkey. 'Not to mention that the people of Wayanad (just to take one Kerala example) could have used those ten crores far better,' he said. Meanwhile, Shashi Tharoor, who is leading a multi-party delegation to five countries, has asserted the mission would be to give the world the message that 'we will not be silenced by terrorism' and that 'we don't want the world to look away either'. Also Read | Boycott Turkey gains momentum: From aviation to chocolates, list of Turkish products and services shunned by India In a video message posted on X, Tharoor said, 'I'm heading off to five countries leading an all-party delegation to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil and the United States, and the reason we are going is to speak for the nation, to speak about this horrendous crisis we were subjected to in which our country was attacked by terrorists in the cruellest possible way.'
Mint
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Shashi Tharoor slams Kerala govt's ‘misplaced generosity' of ₹10 cr aid to Turkey in 2023 amid its support to Pakistan
At the center of media attention over his key role in the government's Operation Sindoor delegation to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil and the United States amid Congress unease, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has now hit out at the Kerala government for its aid to Turkey during the 2023 earthquake. For the unversed, the ties between India and Turkey took a hit as Ankara extended support to Pakistan during the New Delhi-Islamabad conflict following the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). In fact, Turkey also helped Pakistan with arms and weapons. During the conflict, hundreds of drones Pakistan used to breach India's air defence system – though unsuccessfully – were given to Islamabad by Turkey. Referring to the Kerala government's ₹ 10 crore aid to Turkey after the 2023 earthquake, Shashi Tharoor said, 'I hope the Govt of Kerala reflects on its misplaced generosity, after seeing Turkey's behaviour two years later!' Shashi Tharoor also said that Wayanad could have used the money which was sent to Turkey. 'Not to mention that the people of Wayanad (just to take one Kerala example) could have used those ten crores far better,' he said. Meanwhile, Shashi Tharoor, who is leading a multi-party delegation to five countries, has asserted the mission would be to give the world the message that 'we will not be silenced by terrorism' and that 'we don't want the world to look away either'. Also Read | Boycott Turkey gains momentum: From aviation to chocolates, list of Turkish products and services shunned by India In a video message posted on X, Tharoor said, 'I'm heading off to five countries leading an all-party delegation to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil and the United States, and the reason we are going is to speak for the nation, to speak about this horrendous crisis we were subjected to in which our country was attacked by terrorists in the cruellest possible way.' The delegation led by Shashi Tharoor comprises Shambhavi (LJP-RV), Sarfaraz Ahmed (JMM), G M Harish Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP), Bhubaneshwar Kalita (BJP), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), Tejasvi Surya (BJP) and former diplomat Taranjit Sandhu. It will travel to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil and the US.
News18
23-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Misplaced Generosity': Tharoor Rakes Up Kerala Govt's Rs 10 Cr Aid To Turkey After 2023 Quake
Last Updated: Kerala government had announced Rs 10 crore financial aid for Turkey after 2023 earthquake. Two years later, Tharoor reminded the state government of its "misplaced generosity". Raking up Kerala government's Rs 10 crore financial assistance to Turkey shortly after the 2023 devastating earthquake, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday hoped that the Pinarayi Vijayan administration 'reflects on its misplaced generosity" after Ankara responded to New Delhi's 'Operation Dost' with backing Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Sharing a news article published more than two years ago, he said that the sanctioned Rs 10 crore could have been used in Wayanad after the landslides, which killed over 250 people and left several injured. 'I hope the Govt of Kerala reflects on its misplaced generosity, after seeing Turkey's behaviour two years later!" Tharoor posted on X. I hope the Govt of Kerala reflects on its misplaced generosity, after seeing Turkey's behaviour two years later! Not to mention that the people of Wayanad (just to take one Kerala example) could have used those ten crores far better….— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 23, 2025 Thousands of people were killed while several buildings came crashing down as a 7.8-magnitude earthquake created mayhem in Turkey and neighbouring Syria on February 6, 2023. Soon after the tragedy, India had launched 'Operation Dost' to assist in the rescue and relief operation in Turkey and deployed its armed forces on the job. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed solidarity with the people of Turkey in the hour of grief and tragedy. In return, Turkey, in 2025, when tragedy struck India on April 22 after a terror attack on civilians in Pahalgam, ditched New Delhi and backed Islamabad against Operation Sindoor launched by the Indian armed forces on May 7 to avenge the Pahalgam terror attack. Tharoor took to X to remind the Kerala government of Turkey's betrayal and said, 'Not to mention that the people of Wayanad (just to take one Kerala example) could have used those ten crores far better." Back in 2023, the Kerala government had sanctioned Rs 10 crore to assist Turkey. 'The earthquake in Turkiye, which had shocked the consciousness of the world, claimed tens of thousands of lives and left lakhs of people destitute," State Finance Minister K N Balagopal had said then. The state government had also announced financial assistance for Ankara in its budget, which was presented two days after the earthquake. First Published: May 23, 2025, 22:53 IST
