Mumbai: Shashi Tharoor, member of parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has scrutinised PM Modi for discussing India’s internal matters, internationally.
Known for his sharp wit and articulate responses, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is set to dazzle the audience with his captivating presence on 'Aap Ki Adalat’ on Saturday, 3 June 2023.
Shashi Tharoor who last graced the show in 2018, will again involve in an engaging conversation with India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma. He will share his views on the Congress party, the demise of his late wife, Sunanda Pushkar and 2026 Kerala assembly elections.
In the exclusive episode, Shashi Tharoor defended Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his speech in London, which faced criticism for allegedly calling for foreign intervention in the country. In response, he argued that it was prime minister Narendra Modi and the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) who had initiated the trend of discussing the country's internal affairs on the international platform.
“The political differences within the country should be limited to the border. However, it is also a fact that the BJP and Modi Ji were the first ones to break this. It was PM Modi who made a remark on an international platform that nothing good happened in India in the last 60 years,” he said.
When questioned about the reports of friction in the party for his decision to contest the Congress presidential election in 2022, Shashi Tharoor refuted the rumours. He revealed that before filing his nomination he discussed it with Sonia, Rahul, and Priyanka Gandhi.
The veteran Congress leader Shashi Tharoor disclosed, "I met all three of them before filing my nomination, and I was ready to give up if they had advised against it in order to maintain unity in the party. However, they never said so. In fact, they motivated me. Mallikarjun Kharge won, and I respect the decision."
Talking about his personal life, Shashi Tharoor expressed his dismay over the way his name was implicated in the unfortunate demise of his late wife, Sunanda Pushkar. In response to Rajat Sharma's question, Shashi Tharoor stated, "It was disheartening to see certain individuals attempting to gain political advantage from it. Those who are familiar with me know that I could never engage in such behaviour."
Shashi Tharoor even cleared the air of speculation about his plans to contest the Kerala polls, which has emerged due to his heightened focus on the state. Referring to Kerala as his 'Karma Bhoomi,' the three-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram said, “I need more time to decide on this.” He also acknowledged that there is resistance within his party and that some people would not like him to get entangled in state politics. However, if it can bring about a positive change in the lives of people, he would consider it.
On Rajat Sharma's headline-making program 'Aap Ki Adalat,' the former Minister of State for External Affairs also shared his thoughts on India's strategies in external affairs. The episode will be aired on Saturday at 10 pm and repeated on Sunday at 10 AM and 10 PM respectively.
