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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Ramesh criticises PM over delay in all party meeting on Pahalgam attack
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not responding to repeated calls for an all-party meeting and a special Parliament session on the recent Pahalgam terror attack. He accused the Prime Minister of ignoring urgent national issues and instead focusing on marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency. In a post on X, Jairam Ramesh said, "From the night of April 22nd itself, the Indian National Congress has been calling for an all-party meeting on the Pahalgam terror attacks and their fallout - to be chaired by the PM himself. That has yet to take place." He further stated that on May 10, the Leaders of the Opposition (LoPs) in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha wrote to the Prime Minister, requesting a special session of Parliament to pass a resolution showing the nation's collective resolve against terrorism. "The PM has NOT accepted that suggestion as well," Ramesh added. He also said that the government now appeared to be considering a special session of Parliament on June 25-26, to mark the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, which was imposed in 1975. Ramesh sharply criticised the timing and intent behind the proposed session, saying, "This will be yet another classic exercise in diversion and distraction from real and more urgent issues by the man who has placed the nation under an undeclared Emergency for 11 years and the man who refuses to answer why the Pahalgam terrorists are still absconding, why he allowed President Trump to broker a cease fire, and why he gave a clean chit to China publicly on June 19th, 2020?" On Wednesday, Jairam Ramesh has again urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "break" his silence on the matter of repeated claims made by US President Donald Trump's administration regarding its role in brokering the understanding for the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan following the recent escalation after the Pahalgam terror attack. In a post on X, he questioned the veracity of a statement filed by US Commerce Secretary Howard Luttnick in a New York court claiming the US President is using his tariff power to facilitate a "tenuous ceasefire" between India and Pakistan. He urged PM Modi to end his "silence" on the matter. "The Prime Minister should let the country know whether it is true that the US Commerce Secretary Howard Luttnick filed a statement in the New York-based US Court of International Trade on May 23rd, 2025, swearing that President Trump used his tariff power to broker a 'tenuous ceasefire' between India and Pakistan and bring about a 'fragile peace'?" the Congress MP said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
The nation created by Jinnah
The writer is an educationist based in Larkana. She can be reached at sairasamo88@ Listen to article Led by great leaders, envisioned and created by Jinnah, and carried forward by the Muslim community — youth, men and women alike — this nation was built through sacrifice, selflessness and relentless efforts. Resilient, patriotic and high in spirit, it cannot bear the evil eye. The freedom of Pakistan embarked on a new era, ushering in economic, political and social perspectives, and enabling the practice of religion freely. It presented enormous opportunities for the public and the state to strive for the nation's progress. Like an enchanting story, the people inclined themselves towards making their vibrant culture even more beautiful with its unique traits of love and kindness. No external power can now diminish the worth and mettle of its people. This was proved 77 years ago when Jinnah declared, "There is no power on Earth that can undo Pakistan." Stanley Wolpert, in his book, Jinnah of Pakistan, beautifully writes in honour of our Quaid: "Few individuals significantly alter the course of history. Fewer still modify the map of the world. Hardly anyone can be credited with making a nation." Quaid-e-Azam, the architect of the nation, launched the freedom movement and raised Indian Muslims to the height of glory, which was to be preserved in the Land of Pure for all times to come. Not only Muslims but Hindus too were dear to him. Hence, he was called the ambassador of Hindu-Muslim Unity — a unity seen when the Indian National Congress and the All India Muslim League came together on one platform for the Lucknow Pact of 1916. In his early career, he advocated for Hindus and Muslims to live together and flourish peacefully on the subcontinent. But time became so turbulent that the unity once epitomised at the Lucknow Pact was never witnessed again. Over the years, the rift between Hindus and Muslims widened, ultimately leading to the partition. Nevertheless, after the partition, the animosity between Hindus and Muslims escalated, resulting in three wars and several skirmishes. More recently, this has culminated in events like Operation Sindoor and its reaction, Operation Bunyan al-Marsoos. Panic ensues on both sides. Tragically, 77 years have passed since the partition, and in the meantime, both nations have remained at daggers drawn, with less positivity and increasing negativity in their ties. This belligerence seems to be a continuum of the past hostility, when both nations lived together despite diverse cultures and beliefs. The differences between the two nations were rightly envisioned in the Two-Nation Theory — a fact that remains undeniable. Kashmir, meanwhile, has long been the main cause of fluctuating relations between the two countries. The integrity, stability and sovereignty of the region have been chained by constant conflict, resulting in chaos and hatred. The surge in belligerence continues, especially with India's verbal attacks after a superpower-brokered ceasefire. Listening to PM Modi's fake stance and watching Indian media coverage reveals humiliation and degradation directed at Pakistan. The blame game and misinformation by Indian media remain on the rise, leading its public through bias and hatred against Pakistan. India cannot win this game through ill will and misinformation to gain public favour. Victory lies in strong and sincere efforts — something our armed forces have demonstrated with their patriotism and valour, surprising their counterparts. In this regard, the armed forces deserve a grand salute for making the nation proud of their bravery. May these protectors always stand tall in the face of adversity! Evil eyes off! This is the nation of Jinnah, who created Pakistan on the principles of Unity, Faith and Discipline. Therefore, the nation stands by these principles and abides by international law. Though it might be economically weak, it is rich in patriotic love and enthusiasm — because here lives the nation created by Jinnah.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
The liberal rebels Cong can't tame
Marx warned history repeats as farce. The Congress is proving him right History repeats itself, first as a tragedy, second as a farce,' said Karl Marx on the 1851 coup that brought Napoleon Bonaparte to power. Over a century and a half later, the Indian National Congress is striving to live up to the spirit of that quote. Its puerile reactions to the liberal views of writer-politician Shashi Tharoor on the India-Pakistan conflict exposed the farcical traits that have long plagued the party. True, Congress once silenced liberal voices like Chettur Sankaran Nair when M K Gandhi stirred up euphoria in the freedom movement. But today, the party's leadership is struggling to prevent BJP from appropriating both Nair and Tharoor, in one swift move. The parallels between Nair and Tharoor are striking. In 1897, Nair became the only Malayali to be unanimously elected Congress president, while Tharoor remains the only Malayali to unsuccessfully challenge the high command's nominee for the party presidency. Both men dared to challenge their party's positions when they thought national interest was at stake. Perhaps Tharoor may not match the towering stature that Nair commanded during his heyday—not just in India but across the British Empire. Born in 1857 into the matrilineal Chettur family in Mankara, Palakkad, Nair dominated Indian public life for almost half a century until his death in 1934. Mankara lies just a few kilometres away from Tarur, where Tharoor's ancestral home stands. Like Tharoor, Nair was not a career politician. He served as the 13th Congress president, much before Gandhi and Nehru emerged on the scene. He was the first Indian to head a department (education) as a member of the viceroy's executive council l—the highest office an Indian could hold under British rule. He resigned from that post in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, instantly becoming a nationalist hero. Nair, who started associating with Congress in its formative stages, was one of the staunch constitutionalists who wanted freedom to be passed to Indian hands through the gradual democratic empowerment of institutions. At times, he did upset other nationalists by accepting assignments and plum posts in the imperial govt. It was this same rebellious spirit, not his liberal ideology, that recently led Prime Minister Narendra Modi to invoke his memories causing much embarrassment to Congress leadership. If Tharoor hit headlines when he demanded reparations from England for colonial exploitation and wrote a book on the subject, in his 1897 presidential address at the Amaravati session of Congress, at the age of 40, Nair held Britain morally responsible for the extreme poverty in India and its failure to cope with the unprecedented natural calamities of that year. As Congress started drifting from liberal ideals and constitutional values, Nair moved away from active politics and continued his work—persuading and criticising the British govt and pushing for democratic reforms. Like Tharoor, Nair also proved that political differences with govt need not deter a nationalist and true liberal from engaging with it when necessary. But it was his book, 'Gandhi and Anarchy,' written after the Moplah Rebellion in Malabar following Gandhi's regrettable decision to yoke together the non-cooperation movement with the religious Khilafat cause, that rendered Sankaran Nair hugely unpopular. Nair, who had first-hand access to the chilling govt records on the reign of terror unleashed against the Hindu population during the 1921 rebellion, said Gandhi's non-cooperation movement would sow the seeds of anarchy in Indian society and his experiment to attract Muslims to the freedom struggle by declaring Khilafat as a common cause of the country would further widen the Hindu-Muslim divide. Such raw criticism was too much for the Congress to accept for multiple reasons. The Congress functionaries attempting to prevent BJP from hijacking Nair's legacy may be ignorant about the circumstances that prompted Nair to allegedly gravitate towards the Hindu Mahasabha during the last phase of his public life. To truly claim his legacy, Congress will have to start appreciating the liberal values he championed. Only then will it understand why Tharoor has no qualms in labelling Hamas a terror organisation or saying that he prioritizes patriotism over petty politics. The lessons are just as relevant for BJP as both Nair and Tharoor stood for scientific temperament and never promoted bigotry. Both surprised their friends and foes alike in their issue-based approach to situations. 'Sankaran Nair was a liberal voice to the core, and so is Tharoor. It can only be so for erudite souls,' said political scientist G Gopakumar, adding that his long innings in the United States as a UN representative must have further nurtured Tharoor's liberal spirit. 'Instead of cringing over Tharoor's smart work, Congress leadership should have welcomed it,' he said. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
News18
24-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Between Loyalty And Liberty: What Shashi Tharoor Reveals About Congress's Future
Last Updated: Tharoor's conundrum reveals lack of internal democracy, Gandhis' unchallenged authority, Kharge's limitations, and Congress's inconsistent support for national diplomacy Shashi Tharoor, the articulate Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, remains a paradoxical figure within the Indian National Congress—a party he has bolstered with his global stature as a former UN diplomat and consistent electoral success, yet frequently finds himself at odds with its leadership. His role in India's diplomatic response to the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025 has exposed deep-seated tensions. The government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, selected Tharoor to head an all-party delegation to the UK and four other global capitals to present India's stance on terrorism from Pakistan, overriding Congress's nominations. The party had submitted a list of four leaders: Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. But only Sharma was included as a member in one delegation, with the others sidelined. This move, while capitalising on Tharoor's diplomatic finesse, triggered discontent within Congress, highlighting its struggle to balance individual prominence with collective loyalty. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh, without naming Tharoor, remarked: 'Congress mein hona aur Congress ka hona mein zameen-aasmaan ka antar hai" [There is a difference between being in the Congress and of the Congress], critiquing actions seen as too aligned with the government's narrative. Tharoor's conundrum—navigating personal conviction amid party expectations—reveals four critical fault lines: the lack of internal democracy, the Gandhi family's unchallenged authority, Mallikarjun Kharge's limitations as president, and Congress's inconsistent support for national diplomacy when it conflicts with partisan goals. These fissures, amplified by Tharoor's high-profile role, underscore Congress's broader challenge to redefine its identity in a dynamic political landscape. This independent streak has come at a cost. Tharoor, once projected as a thinking statesman within the Congress, finds himself increasingly sidelined—denied leadership roles, overlooked for major responsibilities, and gently nudged out of the party's inner circle. His bid for Congress presidency was welcomed by the public but treated coldly by party loyalists who view any deviation from the anti-Modi script as disloyalty. But Tharoor's approach is not about supporting Modi—it's about supporting India when it does something right. In a healthier political ecosystem, such nuance would be celebrated. In today's Congress, it's punished. His real 'error" is daring to speak as a statesman in a time of sycophancy, where dissent within is discouraged and pragmatism mistaken for betrayal. Lack of Internal Democracy The Congress party, historically a broad coalition that led India's freedom struggle, has struggled to maintain internal democracy in its post-Independence avatar. Tharoor's 2022 bid for the Congress presidency against Mallikarjun Kharge was a rare moment of competitive succession, the first in over two decades without a Gandhi at the helm. Despite a 96 per cent voter turnout and Tharoor securing a respectable 1,072 votes (11.42 per cent) against Kharge's 7,897, the process was marred by allegations of irregularities, particularly in Uttar Pradesh, where Tharoor's team flagged 'serious malpractices." The election, while symbolically significant, underscored the party's resistance to genuine reform. Tharoor's campaign, which emphasised change over continuity, resonated with a section of delegates, yet the party's organisational structure—dominated by loyalists appointed by the high command—ensured Kharge's victory. The absence of published electoral rolls for the 9,000 Pradesh Congress Committee members further fuelled skepticism about the election's fairness. Tharoor's subsequent marginalisation, evident in his exclusion from the 43-member steering committee formed by Kharge, highlights a party culture that stifles dissent and rewards conformity over merit. This lack of internal democracy not only alienates leaders like Tharoor but also hampers Congress's ability to evolve as a dynamic opposition force. Gandhi Family as the Final Voice The Gandhi family's grip on Congress remains the defining feature of its internal politics. Tharoor's presidential candidacy, though not explicitly anti-Gandhi, was perceived as a challenge to the status quo, given Kharge's backing by the party's establishment, implicitly the Gandhis. His defeat, while expected, did not end the scrutiny of his loyalty. In 2023, Tharoor's candid remark that Congress is 'in many ways a family-run party" while discussing potential prime ministerial candidates (naming Kharge or Rahul Gandhi) drew sharp reactions, as it echoed the BJP's long-standing critique of Congress as dynastic. This statement, made in the context of Rahul Gandhi's attempts to deflect dynasty allegations by pointing to BJP leaders' kin, underscored the sensitivity within Congress to any narrative that questions the Gandhis' centrality. Tharoor's inclusion in the Congress Working Committee in 2023 was seen as a conciliatory gesture, but his repeated divergence from the party line—most recently on India-Pakistan diplomacy—has reignited tensions. Party sources have accused him of crossing the 'Lakshman Rekha," signaling that no voice, however articulate or credible, can overshadow the Gandhis' authority. This dynamic ensures that talented leaders like Tharoor are either co-opted or sidelined, leaving little room for independent thought or leadership. Mallikarjun Kharge's Limitations as President Mallikarjun Kharge's election as Congress president in 2022 was hailed as a step toward a non-Gandhi leadership, yet his tenure has exposed the constraints of his role. Kharge, a seasoned leader with a strong organisational background, was seen as a safe choice—loyal to the Gandhis and unlikely to disrupt the party's power structure. However, his presidency has struggled to articulate a clear ideological or strategic vision for Congress. On critical issues, such as the India-Pakistan conflict following Operation Sindoor in May 2025, the party's stance has been inconsistent. While Congress lauded the armed forces' success, it questioned the Modi government's ceasefire agreement, particularly former US President Donald Trump's claims of mediation. Kharge's leadership has failed to reconcile these contradictions, leaving room for individual leaders like Tharoor to fill the void with their own views. Tharoor's praise for the government's 'restraint and precision" in the strikes contrasted with the party's skepticism, exposing Kharge's inability to enforce a unified narrative. His role as a 'rubber stamp," as critics have suggested, limits his authority to steer the party beyond the Gandhis' directives, rendering Congress's responses reactive and fragmented. This leadership vacuum undermines the party's credibility as a cohesive opposition. Fleeting Support for India's Diplomacy Tharoor's selection to lead an all-party delegation to five global capitals in May 2025 to present India's stance on terrorism from Pakistan was a testament to his diplomatic acumen. However, the move sparked controversy within Congress, as his name was not among the four MPs recommended by Rahul Gandhi and Kharge. The government's decision to include Tharoor, bypassing Congress's nominees, was slammed by the party's communication chief and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh, who emphasised the party's exclusion from the decision. Tharoor's vocal support for the government's military response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 people, and his dismissal of Trump's mediation claims as a politician 'wanting to take credit", aligned closely with the government's narrative. top videos View all This stance, while praised by some as patriotic, drew ire from Congress leaders, who felt it undermined the party's critical posture. The episode revealed Congress's inability to sustain a unified stance on national interest issues when they conflict with partisan goals. Tharoor's insistence that he spoke as an Indian, not a party spokesperson loyal to Gandhi family highlighted the tension between individual conviction and collective discipline, exposing Congress's discomfort with leaders who prioritise national unity over party loyalty. The author teaches journalism at St Xavier's College (autonomous), Kolkata. His handle on X is @sayantan_gh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : Anand Sharma India-Pakistan ties Mallikarjun Kharge Operation Sindoor Rahul Gandhi shashi tharoor Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 24, 2025, 10:12 IST News opinion Opinion | Between Loyalty And Liberty: What Shashi Tharoor Reveals About Congress's Future
Straits Times
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Shashi Tharoor, India's maverick diplomat- politician, inches closer to Modi's BJP
Senior member of the Indian National Congress Shashi Tharoor speaks during an interview in New Delhi, on July 3, 2024. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG SINGAPORE – It is no secret that India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi would welcome Dr Shashi Tharoor in his corner. The affable Congress politician, an opposition stalwart with nationwide popularity exceeded perhaps only by a handful of public figures including Mr Modi himself, would be an asset to any political party – especially one like the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), whose popularity suffered a hit in the last parliamentary polls. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
