Shashi Tharoor slams organisers for announcing Savarkar award without consent
New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday expressed strong displeasure after his name was announced for an award named after Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar without obtaining his prior consent.
Calling it an act of irresponsibility, Tharoor said he had no intention of accepting the award or attending the event. Tharoor stated that he would not receive the award unless there was clear information about the organisation presenting it.
In a post shared on social media platform X, he wrote, “I learned through the media that I have been selected for the Veer Savarkar Award, which is to be presented in Delhi today. I am currently in Kerala to cast my vote in the local body elections.”
He criticised the organisers, saying, “Announcing my name without my permission reflects irresponsibility. I have no details about the award and will not accept it.” Tharoor added that although he had already clarified his position, some media outlets continued to raise repetitive questions, prompting him to issue a detailed statement to clear all doubts.
He firmly stated, “Without clear information or details about the award and the institution behind it, there is no question of me attending the event or accepting the award.”
Following his remarks, the organisers responded. A J Krishnan, secretary of the Highrange Rural Development Society (HRDS), told a news channel that Tharoor had been informed earlier. “We had shared the list with him. We have not yet received confirmation that he will not attend. Perhaps he fears this might create political controversy within the Congress,” Krishnan claimed.
Meanwhile, Congress leaders expressed their dissatisfaction over the development. Senior leader K Muraleedharan said no Congress member, including Tharoor, should accept an award named after Savarkar, accusing him of having bowed before the British.
He added, “If Tharoor accepts the award, it would embarrass the party. We believed he would not accept it, and he has now affirmed that.”
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