First time Congress MP and minister Shashi Tharoor — a regular on the social networking website Twitter — today received a stern message from the party leadership to restrain himself. The latest flak for the minister of state for external affairs came after he described the economy class of airlines — a coveted place in the recent austerity spree of the Congress — as “cattle class” and publicly announcing that he will continue to travel in the ‘cattle class’ out of solidarity with “holy cows”.
On Tuesday, Tharoor in a reply to a question on whether he would continue to travel in cattle class, wrote in his Twitter blog: “Absolutely, in cattle class out of solidarity with all our holy cows”.
While Tharoor’s chair remains safe for the time being, a peeved Congress leadership couldn’t accept these off-the-cuff remarks a day after party president Sonia Gandhi travelled in an economy class seat to Mumbai. A senior leader close to Gandhi said: “The message has been conveyed to him (Tharoor) that being a newcomer he should first learn the political culture of the Congress which has a history attached to its name.”
A section of the Congress also claimed that Tharoor had been advised not to air his personal comments and its better if he stopped his Twitter writings altogether.
The Congress slammed Tharoor for his ‘insensitive’ remarks. Party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said: “We totally condemn it. The statement is not in sync with our political culture. His remarks are not acceptable.”
“Certainly, the party does not endorse it. We find it unacceptable and totally insensitive. We do not approve of this articulation. Thousands of people travel in economy class,” she added.
The Congress also faced embarrassment as Tharoor spoke about showing solidarity with “holy cows” at a time when both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi are spearheading the austerity campaign and travelling in less expensive class in train and flights.
Tharoor had already received flak recently for his stay in a luxurious hotel and was forced to shift to the Navy guest house in the national capital.
Mr. Taroor's verbal reaction regarding cattle class was an artless art of repartee misunderstood or in other words not understood by those who matters. There would have been no cattle class had the holy cows were efficient in their dispositions. Again Mr. Taroor is right when speaks work is worship and it should be ideally celebrated working day Gandhijanthy day. We have that unhealthy holiday culture related each and every great ones. How many man hours we loose in the name of this great man who said work is worship! Hope every one understands now what Mr. Taroor wanted to say loud and clear! He always talks from a different intellectual platform. The King must be wise philosopher as the adage goes - when the ordinary rules the cattle class shall continue for good................
Shashi tharoor is juz becomin different, or he is different from normal congress politicians... And what he said is a joke and be taken in that sense. People lacks sense of humor mr. tharoor, u may better act like a puppet as ur fellow congress men are already doin it. that's called the political culture of congress party.
Sonia is acting like a dictator. She should concentrate on lowering prices of food commodities and building infrastructure. Stop this drama. The train was pelted because Rahul was there. They are putting common mans life in danger too
First time MP on congress ticket Shashi Tharoor MOS, External Affairs Ministry by his unthoughtful actions is causing enough embarrassment to the congress party. Perhaps, this is on account of his lavish life style and a bit of his haughty gestures. By displaying his hesitance to move out of the luxry 5 star hotel in keeping with the austerity drive of congress party and now his srcastic/derogatory remarks of 'travelling in cattle class out of solidarity with all our holy cows', defying the political culture of congress party, Shashi Tharoor has put himself in an uncomfortable position. Since it is the prerogative of PM Dr Manmohan Singh to appoint or relieve any minister, in the interest of congress party's discipline ethics and service code of conduct, it is a matter of consideration for PM Dr Manmohan Singh whether to keep Shashi Tharoor in the Ministry or show him the door.
Content Guide
