Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Tharoor defends Rahul, says he never made anti-national remarks

Shashi Tharoor said Rahul Gandhi never asked for foreign countries to intervene in India’s democracy

Tharoor defends Rahul, says he never made anti-national remarks

Shashi Tharoor, a senior leader of the Indian National Congress, on Friday (17),  defended Rahul Gandhi's controversial remarks made during his recent trip to the UK.

Tharoor stated that Gandhi did not call for foreign intervention in India's democracy, and his comments were not anti-national. The controversy surrounding Gandhi's remarks has disrupted parliamentary proceedings for the first five days of the budget session's second half.


Tharoor urged for the issue to be put aside and for Parliament to address the challenges facing the country.

When questioned about the BJP's request for Gandhi to apologise for his remarks, Tharoor, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, stated that he does not believe that the former Congress leader has any reason to apologise.

According to Tharoor, Gandhi never asked for foreign countries to intervene in India's democracy. Tharoor defended Gandhi's statement, saying that he simply called Indian democracy a global public good and that there was nothing to apologise for.

Tharoor also pointed out that if the BJP wants an apology from Gandhi for discussing domestic politics abroad, then Narendra Modi should also apologise.

Tharoor also said, on several occasions during his foreign visits, Modi has stated that India had achieved nothing in the 65 years prior to his taking office, and that Indians used to be embarrassed to travel abroad.

"I think when he (Modi) apologises for statements like that, then all of us can apologise for saying the opposite abroad. I think this is the level of political discourse we ought to grow out of," he said.

Tharoor supported Gandhi's remarks made during his UK trip. He also believed that there was nothing anti-national about Gandhi's comments and that everyone is entitled to express their views on appropriate forums.

Gandhi claimed during his recent UK visit that Indian democracy is facing a “full-scale assault” on its institutions and structures. He also told British parliamentarians that microphones are switched off in the Lok Sabha when opposition members raise important issues.

The BJP accused Gandhi of maligning India on foreign soil and seeking foreign interventions, while the Congress responded by citing instances of Modi raising internal politics abroad, triggering a political controversy.

(With inputs from PTI)

More For You

Sunita-Williams-Reuters

Sunita Williams was part of the SpaceX Crew-9 mission and had been stranded in space for over nine months. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters)

India looks amazing from space, says Sunita Williams

NASA astronaut Sunita Williams described India as "amazing" from space and expressed her intention to visit her "father's home country" to share her experiences on space exploration.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, she responded to a question about how India appeared from space and the possibility of collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Keep ReadingShow less
british-muslims-iStock

The study noted that this identification was not due to any doctrinal obligation but was influenced by the perception that many Muslims do not feel fully accepted as British. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Majority of British Muslims identify by faith first, study finds

A STUDY by the Institute for the Impact of Faith in Life (IIFL) has found that most British Muslims identify primarily with their religion rather than their nationality.

The research, based on a survey of 815 British Muslim adults by Whitestone Insight, revealed that 71 per cent of respondents identified as Muslim first, while 27 per cent identified as British, English, or Scottish first.

Keep ReadingShow less
Car Tax Changes: EV Owners Now Required to Pay for the First Time

Owners of electric vehicles registered on or after 1 April 2025 will pay £10 for the first year, followed by the standard VED rate of £195 from the second year. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Car tax changes take effect: EV owners to pay for first time

FROM today, 1 April 2025, electric cars, vans, and motorcycles in the UK will be subject to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) for the first time.

The change, introduced in the 2022 Autumn Statement by former Conservative Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, aims to make motoring taxation fairer.

Keep ReadingShow less
scotland-minimum-wages-iStock

Full-time workers on the National Living Wage will receive an annual pay increase of £1,400 in real terms. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Wage increase takes effect for thousands of workers in Scotland

HUNDREDS of thousands of workers in Scotland will see a pay increase as new National Living Wage and National Minimum Wage rates take effect from Tuesday.

The changes will benefit approximately 220,000 people, according to STV News.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk-energy-bill-iStock

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

April bill increases put financial strain on single parents

A RANGE of essential household bills are increasing from April, with Citizens Advice warning that single parents will be among the hardest hit.

Water bills, energy prices, and council tax are rising, while the minimum wage has also increased, BBC reported.

Keep ReadingShow less