If Shashi Tharoor wants a title to flaunt along with his myriad accomplishments, he might like to consider “Row Bahadur”. The minister of state for external affairs in the Manmohan Singh team has led what can only be mildly termed a charmed existence in the first nine months of the second innings of the UPA government.
After his failed bid to become secretary-general of the United Nations,with the backing of UPA-I, the youthful son of a journalist has been rarely out of the limelight, slipping from one 140-character controversy to another. His election campaign in Trivandrum was marred by reports that he had disrespected the national anthem.
Inducted into the council of ministers, the first-time MP’s five-star accommodation made embarrassing headlines and set the tone for a week of breastbeating over his tweet on travelling “cattle-class”. His reported comments about Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at a book launch ruffled a few Congress feathers. His senior, S.M. Krishna, has had to publicly draw the lakshman rekha for his Twittermania. And now comes the gaffe about Saudi Arabia being an “interlocutor” in the India-Pakistan theatre.
Question: Will Shashi Tharoor survive the first reshuffle of Team Manmohan?
Also read: Can Sai Baba make Shashi Tharoor win?
Shashi Tharoor’s definition of globalisation
Shashi Tharoor on saving the saree
Tags: Churumuri, Diana, Jawaharlal Nehru, Manmohan Singh, S.M. Krishna, Sans Serif, Shashi Tharoor
1 March 2010 at 5:33 pm
The Junior Minister is a neo-liberal well suited to the interests of corporate India. Corporate India will back him all the way through. He will survive for sure. One must not forget that he is a product of the St Stephens Debate club as well.
1 March 2010 at 6:25 pm
A M.Bhadrakumar article which appeared in The Hindu some days ago clearly explains, the clear invitation of Saudi by USA to meddle in the af-pak theater. they hope to cut a deal with “good talibans” and inject a doze of saudi wahabism in afghanistan, eventually planning a moderate theocratic state, which obviously china is vehemently opposing.
Now, we all know, where we will piggy back in such a situation. The Saudi travel and the urge for increased participation of theirs in the region in clandestinely pushed by US. Tharoor is a pawn in the whole game and his interests and position will be safeguarded in this govt as long as he toe- along these lines.
1 March 2010 at 6:43 pm
Tharoor seems be well meaning guy. But, he a disaster as a External Affairs Minister. I hope he is dumped from the cabinet, made to learn the tricks as an MP.
Shudder to imagine him as UN Secy Gen !
1 March 2010 at 7:44 pm
He is rich which makes all the difference!
1 March 2010 at 7:59 pm
Bigger question is – Should he!
He keeps embarrassing the govt. What was he thinking when he made remarks like Saudi’s being interlocutors??!!
Having visited Saudi frequently, I know how intolerant, non-liberal and conservative muslim nation it is. And to think they’ll have any useful thing to offer in an Indo-pak issue is like saying that a Mutton dish expert can be an interlocutor between the lamb and the butcher.
1 March 2010 at 10:23 pm
He must be nominated to as (India’s) Kerala’s Secretary General by UPA Government and posted out to UNO, New York, permanently to goof up all he wants to for the rest of his active life.
2 March 2010 at 1:13 am
It appears that the Hon’ble minister has become a sitting duck for such contrived controversies by the media. Taken in context interlocutor will not mean “mediator” but only as someone who has to be engaged with. It is a different issue whether we must engage Saudi Arabia or not. It is definitely misleading to say that the minister wants to engage Saudi Arabia in this issue.
This is not to say I support his continuing in this vein. It is not sufficient if a minister is intellectually sound and is an expert in the field he is charged with. It is also essential that he be capable of relating back to the people who he is supposed to serve. If at every step he is being misunderstood by the public (which sometimes is a direct consequence of being misunderstood by the media) then it’s time for him to rethink his style and adopt (maybe) a more understated style which several of our leaders (good, bad and ugly) have adopted.
2 March 2010 at 11:34 am
what qualification of his that govt considered and made made him a minister?
is he a diplomat? well educated ? knowledgeble? noted journalist?
well respected teacher?
Isnt he just a Page3 product?
2 March 2010 at 4:23 pm
As harkol says saudi is very aggresiv`e about religion even muslims wont prefer to visit ir work in saudi.Mr. Tharor has think twice and give statements becuase he is the responsible position, Even a small child knows what i
2 March 2010 at 8:47 pm
Dr.Reddy,
>>what qualification of his that govt considered and made made him a minister?
is he a diplomat? well educated ? knowledgeble? noted journalist?
well respected teacher?
Isnt he just a Page3 product?>>
Tharoor was deputy of Kofi Annan in the UN and unseccesfully contested for the General Secretary post against Ban Ki Moon of Korea. This is what promted MMS to induct him into the cabinet as deputy Foreign Minister. I pity SMK’s predicament working with this moron tharoor
4 March 2010 at 10:06 am
@kavitha
thanks. I know he was with UN. apart from his connection to UN and st stephen’s , does he have any other qualification, i meant
6 March 2010 at 5:26 pm
Dr. Reddy, if you are asking for the qualifications for being a minister in India are 1. a criminal, 2. rapist, 3. Convict etc.. then Shashi Tharoor may not be qualified. But if you are looking for man with wisdom and worldview Tharoor has it all in plenty….
Beofre foulmouthing Shashi Tharoor on his qualification and experience, one you may please read this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shashi_Tharoor