Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is once again in the headlines for his statement. This time he has defended the political legacy of senior BJP leader and former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani. Tharoor says that just as the long public lives of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi cannot be judged by just one incident, similarly it is unfair to limit Advani’s decades of political contribution on the basis of one episode.

Defense of Advani’s political legacy
Tharoor wrote on social media platform He said, ‘It is wrong to limit his long service to a single incident. Just as Nehruji’s career was not defined only by the defeat of the China War, nor Indira Gandhi’s career only by the Emergency, similarly Advaniji should also get justice.

Tharoor gave best wishes on his 98th birthday
Tharoor wished Advani on his 98th birthday and praised his commitment to public service. He wrote, ‘Happy 98th birthday to respected LK Advaniji! His devotion, humility and sincerity towards public service and his role in deciding the direction of modern India are indelible. He is a true politician whose life has been inspiring.

Wishing the venerable Shri LK Advani a very happy 98th birthday! His unwavering commitment to public service, his modesty & decency, and his role in shaping the trajectory of modern India are indelible. A true statesman whose life of service has been exemplary. pic.twitter.com/5EJh4zvmVC

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 8, 2025

Opposition to Tharoor’s statement
After this tweet by Tharoor, many people criticized him on social media. Some accused him of trying to ‘whitewash’ the controversial aspects of Advani’s politics. Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Hegde gave a strong reply and wrote, ‘Sowing seeds of hatred’ is not a public service in this country.

agreed, @sanjayuvachabut reducing his long years of service to one episode, however significant, is also unfair. The totality of Nehruji’s career cannot be judged by the China setback, nor Indira Gandhi’s by the Emergency alone. I believe we should extend the same courtesy to…

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 9, 2025

Debate between Tharoor and Hegde
A debate on X was also seen between Tharoor and Hegde. Expressing his sharp views on Advani’s Rath Yatra, Hegde said – ‘Rath Yatra was not a single incident. It was a long journey to overturn the basic principles of the Indian Republic. This laid the foundation for incidents like 2002 and 2014. Just as the insult to Draupadi gave birth to the Mahabharata, the violent legacy of the Rath Yatra continues to influence the direction of the country even today. He did not preach Rajdharma even from his ‘Shar-Shaiya’.

It is noteworthy that Advani’s Rath Yatra had started from Somnath and in Bihar, the then Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav had stopped it. This yatra is considered a major event that created the atmosphere before the demolition of Babri Masjid in December 1992.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed concern over the arrest of former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Sunday (August 24, 2025), appealing to the island country’s government to leave the politics of vengeance and to treat his former President with respect and dignity.

Wickremesinghe (76) was taken to the main magazine remand jail around midnight on Friday after being sent to custody by the court of ‘Colombo Fort Magistrate’ by 26 August. He was transferred to the intensive medical unit (ICU) of Colombo National Hospital on Saturday.

Congress leader urges Sri Lanka government

Tharoor wrote on the social media platform ‘X’, ‘I am worried about being detained in allegations of former Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe appearing minor. Due to his health problems, he has already been taken to the jail hospital.

Congress leader Tharoor said, “I respect the Sri Lankan government, respecting the politics of vengeance, with the honor and dignity with his former President with the honor and dignity,” Congress leader Tharoor said.

Know what is the whole matter?

Jail spokesperson Jagat Veerasinghe said on Saturday (August 24, 2025) that Wickremesinghe was admitted to the jail hospital, as he had high blood sugar and blood pressure levels. The former President was arrested on Friday at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters, where he was called to record a statement regarding the alleged misuse of government funds of 1.66 crore Sri Lankan rupees.

After this, Wickramasinghe was produced in the court of Colombo Fort Magistrate. The CID has accused him under sections 386 and 388 of the Penal Code and Section 5 (1) of the Public Property Act. There is a provision for at least one year and maximum 20 years jail sentence in these allegations.

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