In the immediate aftermath of Operation Sindoor, from all accounts considered, the government of the day decided upon the need to send out official delegations that would meet with influencers across countries, share our narrative on how India is flighting terror, and more specifically, why and how we felt the need to retaliate firmly and strongly against the April massacre of innocent Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir Valley. How, India was being continuously subjected to acts of terror from across the border, making life difficult for an average Kashmiri who now wanted to live an honest and decent life, giving equal opportunity to every young Kashmiri, as for every other youth in the country, to earn and live in dignity and prosperity. That life in the valley had eased considerably in the last five years, since the abrogation of Article 370, surely a political decision in itself, but one which had brought incremental gains to the average Kashmiri in the valley. Most noticeably, tourism had prospered and much of the local economy revolved around tourism. Not just the hotelier but the cab driver, the shikara wala, the carpet seller, the local stall owner selling tea and cookies.
This narrative of ongoing success and with every Kashmiri falling in line, as it were, with the rest of India was not an idea that would go well with enemies of peace and prosperity in the valley.
The Brazen Act of Cowardice: Killing Innocents
The restoration of peace and prosperity, the successes in restoration of calm and ease of living were disrupted in one single act of inhuman and unwarranted pillage, aimed at creating unrest, and that this wanton act in disharmony had to be met with equal with not even more forceful response. Every Indian was baying for blood, saddened and shocked by this merciless killing of innocent lives. Any inaction, turning the other check, would have meant loss of face, an act of cowardice and even complicity. It had to be met. The response had to spell out determination and tenacity, ability to defend our borders and ability to stand up and be counted.
Delegations from Across the Political Divide
The government of the day, in good wisdom, decided that such teams that go across continents, should not be from within the ruling party, but from across political shades of opinion. It meant sending very strong lessons – that the country was united in her resolve to fight terror; when it came to standing up to Pakistan’s war mongering, all apolitical parties were in in together; there was unity across religions, there was no Hindu-Muslim chasm in our unity; it was not a party issue, but a national issue. The government, indeed, was prudent and wise in choosing leadership, across the country, across the political spectrum, both Hindu and Muslim faces, very prominent in themselves. Should they have invited parties to nominate people, or should they have chosen people directly – this can remain a bone of contention, but it remains a smaller issue, in the overall sense of unity of purpose.
Was there politics in the choices made? There always will be a case, either way. The leaders chosen, especially here from the Congress, all very capable, former ministers, each worthy of their stature they command. Ghulam Nabi Azad, Salman Khursheed, Manish Tewari and of course, Shashi Tharoor. Why we singled out the last, because most was made of his choice by the Opposition Congress. In fact, they were left red-faced. Should they oppose, how and on what grounds? Was he a fence sitter, and singled out by the ruling party to curry his favour? Were the others too, kind of wobbly on which side to go? That the Congress felt weak in the knees, was evident and a most unfortunate fact in that. Across the political spectrum, there were others, too, representatives of smaller and bigger parties, some from known and established clans within the opposition ranks.
The basic fact loomed large: that there were all party delegations that went, across to more than 30 countries, each delegation composed of eminent politicians. Each was hand-picked by the ruling government, in their own logic, but not one that could he held in doubt. The countries they went were equally well chosen, profiles matched, acumen suited to whom they were to meet. A most meticulous exercise, except for those who never saw the wisdom in sending them in the first place, or who had their own axe to grind, one way or the other.
The Success Factor: Whom They Met?
What of the success achieved? What of the quality of people they met? To each his own appropriate counterparts, is the best summing up you can have. None of them had a sitting minister, no sitting governor. Did we expect they should have met the German Chancellor or the French President? Or that POTUS would have invited them to lunch? That he did invite Munir, yes, but then our delegation did not visit the US with a business proposal with them – with an offer of 2000 acres outside of Manesar to develop Trump City. From all accounts they met a mix of influencers, senior officials – there was merit in the idea and who better to sense this than the Pakistanis, even if our doubting Aruns and Varuns could not. Soon enough, they sent their own people, but at senior government level. It was a most logical and natural outcome, not a fallout of any failure of our foreign policy.
The Tharoor Factor: Is Eloquence a Negative?
What of the attacks from the Congress party? Ill-timed in the absence of not knowing what else they could do. It was not to be lauded, then it could only be criticised. Was Tharoor in the process of cosying up with the ruling party – could that be a given, but did it mean he was going to cross over? Perhaps not, but perhaps yes, what if push came to shove. Should the Congress dispel him for his seemingly anti-party activities? But was it anti-party in the public eye? Or, was it sharing a national cause? Making common cause on a subject of utmost national interest, telling the world of the wrong inflicted upon India, and why we had to retaliate. Would dispelling him make him a hero? And give the BJP a walk over? It was a dilemma none would want to face, and the Congress had to.
Is Shashi Tharoor being singled out ever since he decided to contest the presidential party polls? Wasn’t it the most appropriate thing to do, to show the world how the Congress party was democratic within its ranks, that it conducted presidential elections, openly and transparently. It must have gone to him merit-wise, considering he had little chance to win, but yet he made a common cause of another kind – that he stood for democracy. For a party that preached democracy but never held elections to any of its office bearers – all were chosen inductees, the ‘chosen ones’.
Ever since, whenever Tharoor speaks, political circles go abuzz? Knowing his penchant of the language, people first try read in between the lines, instead of the lines themselves. A search for the hidden, rather that what was obvious, straight and simple. So, does his gravitas gets missed in people chasing his language? Perhaps, yes, but he has acquired over time, deeper thought along with his diction and vocabulary. Whichever way he goes, he has a long way to go; without a dictionary in hand, leaving his audience to do a Google search on their mobile phones!
Politics over Kerala
One reason for vocal resistance to Tharoor’s sojourns since OP Sindoor could be the internal power play within the Congress. KC Venugopal holds considerable sway over Rahul Gandhi and wishes to control the Kerala State Congress – perhaps he sees himself or one of his proteges as the next Chief Minister. And, not Tharoor, who may have the best chance.
Kerala switches between Congress and CPI every election. That Tharoor has gone public, saying that he does not wish to contest any more parliamentary elections, suggests that he has bigger political ambitions. Would he be averse to piggy-riding BJP’s electoral machinery to bid for the CM’s chair? The presumption would be making the Congress uncomfortable, which can explain the visible belligerence against Tharoor. But wouldn’t Tharoor be the best bet for the Congress, if they wished to remain in the race? Which ever party, it looks he has his eyes set on the state, for this time.
