Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been under fire from his own party in recent times. Whenever he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi or any work of his government, he faced criticism within the party.
Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has sent a clear message to opposition-ruled states that chasing political ideological purity is unproductive, and cooperation with the central government is essential for development. Tharoor stated that the ruling party has received the country's mandate, and states should not hesitate to avail themselves of schemes and funds for the welfare of their citizens.
Ideological Stubbornness Affects Development
Speaking from the Amrita News platform at an event held in Dubai on Tuesday, Tharoor said, "People are only interested in ideological purity. This is not how you get work done. If your state does not cooperate with the center, how will you implement schemes for the public?" He termed this as stubbornness and authoritarianism in politics, warning that such an attitude impedes development.
Tharoor also shared his views on X (formerly Twitter), writing, "If a central scheme brings funds for your state, rejecting it is akin to wasting taxpayers' money. This is madness. This money belongs to our country and our people."
Respecting the Mandate
Tharoor clarified that he often disagrees with the BJP-led central government but emphasized that this should be viewed from the perspective of political pragmatism. He stated, "I may disagree with the ruling party, but they have received the mandate from the country. I will work with them. If the center imposes conditions for a scheme, I will see how to implement it according to my beliefs, but I will ensure to take the money because my people need it."
He cited a recent incident in Kerala where the state government allegedly rejected a central scheme. Tharoor said, "Kerala returned the funds, stating they would remain politically pure. But school roofs are leaking, and there are no desks or blackboards for the children. This is madness. It's taxpayers' money, and it shouldn't be rejected like this."
Political Pragmatism and Ideological Balance
In Dubai, Tharoor stated that mutual cooperation and a practical approach are necessary in politics, rather than ideological stubbornness. He said, "I may not always agree with the ruling party, but if a scheme brings funds for our state, there's no harm in accepting it. It is in the public interest."
He also noted in his statement that the current political environment in the country is sensitive. Tharoor has recently come under fire from his own Congress colleagues for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech at the Ramnath Goenka Lecture. He said, "I merely spoke based on facts and circumstances, not offering any praise. But currently, in our country, even a neutral stance is being perceived as either criticism or praise."
