Shashi Tharoor "Appalled" At Backlash Over Birthday Post For LK Advani
NDTV
Controversy erupted over Shashi Tharoor's tweet on Monday, in which he described senior BJP leader LK Advani as "a fine human being" and "a gentleman in politics"
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said today he had been left "appalled by the vicious backlash" that followed his tweeting best wishes this week to senior BJP leader LK Advani on his 94th birthday. I am frankly appalled by the vicious backlash against my birthday greetings toLK Advaniji. Has civility disappeared entirely from our political discourse?Gandhiji taught us to respect&honour the humanity in our political opponents. It seems that now makes me a Sanghi sympathiser! In fact Gandhiji taught us to fight the sin but love(&embrace)the sinner. Ahimsa is“a positive state of love, of doing good even to the evildoer”. While good & evil are Gandhian terms I can't easily use (most human beings are shades of both),I deplore intolerance on either side. So yes, I intend to continue to wish LK Advani & @narendramodi well on their birthdays, while opposing what they stand for politically. My 40 years of writing makes clear what I believe in. Only those who haven't read me would call me a Sanghi. My values won't be discarded 4them. Warm wishes for a fine human being, a gentleman in politics, a leader of wide reading and great courtesy. #HappyBirthdayLKAdvanihttps://t.co/FSnxtrelDF Wishing @NarendraModi ji happy birthday & many healthy years in the service of the nation. May he be able to work more successfully in the next two, to ensure that Vikas actually dawns in our country& is truly “sab ka”& “sab ka saath”! May he create work for the Indian people too pic.twitter.com/Z6qujDHA8B
Mr Tharoor slammed the lack of civility in the country's political discourse and offered a reminder of Mahatma Gandhi's lesson - to "respect and honour the humanity in our political opponents", and took a dig at his critics, suggesting "... seems that makes me a Sanghi sympathiser".
"I am frankly appalled by the vicious backlash against my birthday greetings to LK Advaniji. Has civility disappeared entirely from our political discourse? Gandhiji taught us to respect and honour the humanity in our political opponents. It seems that now makes me a Sanghi sympathiser!"