Shashi Tharoor

GenZ deserves better than 'undeclared Emer-GenZ': Tharoor slams govt action

Hitting out at the Modi government, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday claimed that Delhi is witnessing a "war-like deployment", and said "our GenZ deserves better than an undeclared Emer-GenZ". He said the government should provide answers, not lathis; expression, not repression. Tharoor, who was in Berlin this week, said he returned to the national capital after 2 am and has rarely seen anything like what Delhi is witnessing now. "Checkpoints every few hundred metres, concrete barriers and spike strips laid across our roads, a "war-like" deployment of 22,000 police and paramilitary across the city, 250 trains cancelled and 45 metro stations closed, and reports of young people being detained from their own homes and the streets in and around Delhi -- all to prevent citizens from peacefully raising questions about the integrity of our elections," he said on X. "Most regressive (as well as repressive) is the suspension of the internet in the heart of the national capital," t

Best of Opinion: Elon Musk should never get a satellite licence in India

From Starlink's security concerns and Maharashtra's drought politics to challenges facing Modi's third term and Shashi Tharoor's political branding, today's opinions examine a variety of issues

The making of brand Shashi Tharoor

The story of the man who makes you open a dictionary before breakfast is a masterclass in accidental differentiation

'Death of democracy': Tharoor slams Centre over handling of CJP protests

He also questioned the government over shutting down 16 metro stations for a brief period due to security reasons

Shashi Tharoor moves Delhi HC against publication of deepfake videos

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday moved the Delhi High Court against the publication of AI-generated deepfake videos purportedly showing him "praising Pakistan" and making statements on such "politically sensitive" issues. Justice Mini Pushkarna issued summons to social media platforms X and Meta Platforms as well as the Centre on the lawsuit by the Thiruvananthapuram MP and current chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, and indicated she would pass an interim order in his favour. Senior advocate Amit Sibal, appearing for Tharoor, submitted that unknown entities were repeatedly publishing fake videos by misappropriating his face, voice and other attributes of his personality, which ought to be taken down. The senior counsel argued that the videos are detrimental to Tharoor's reputation as a patriot and chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. "India Today and PTI have put publicly that these are fake videos, yet t

Delimitation will turn out to be 'political demonetisation': Shashi Tharoor

Delimitation will turn out to be "political demonetisation", senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Friday while slamming the government for linking women's reservation with the expansion of Parliament. Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on the three bills introduced for amendments in the women's quota law and setting up a delimitation commission, Tharoor said linking women's reservation with delimitation is to hold the aspirations of Indian women hostage to "one of the most contentious and complex" administrative exercises in the country's history. "Today we stand at a threshold where there is near unanimous political consensus in favour of women's reservation. Every major party realises that the time for tokenism is over and the era of collective partnership must begin and yet I am finding myself deeply perturbed by the legislative exercise before us," he said. "The prime minister says he has brought 'nari shakti' the gift of justice but he has wrapped it in barbed

Women's reservation bill amendment shouldn't become political tool: Tharoor

Ahead of the special three-day Parliament session when the women's reservation law is expected to be amended, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said the proposed amendments should not be a political tool that undermines federalism and vitiates the vitality of Parliament. In a post on X, he alleged that the government is convening a "special session" to derive political mileage ahead of state polls with an eye on delimitation before the 2029 general elections. He also asserted that Congress is committed to a one-third reservation for women, but the same should be inclusive and fair. Sharing his pictures at the Congress Working Committee (CWC), which met on Friday to take a stand on the proposed amendments to the women's reservation law (Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam), he said, "While the Congress has always championed the 33% quota, and the first to introduce a Bill and pass it in the Rajya Sabha in 2013, the current government's approach raises serious alarms." The meeting

Shashi Tharoor's gunman, driver attacked in Kerala's Malappuram, one held

A person has been taken into custody after Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's gunman and driver were allegedly attacked by a five-member group at Wandoor here, police said on Saturday. According to Wandoor Police, a case has been registered, and one person is currently in custody. Police said the case was registered based on a complaint lodged by Tharoor's gunman, Ratheesh K P. As per the FIR, the incident occurred at Chellithode near Thiruvali in Wandoor at around 7.30 pm on Friday. Police officials said the incident took place when there was a roadblock at the Chelithode bridge as Tharoor was on his way to attend an election campaign event of Congress leader A P Anilkumar. According to the FIR, the accused, who were travelling in two vehicles, blocked the MP's vehicle. When the gunman attempted to clear the obstruction, he and the driver were allegedly attacked, the FIR said. Police said the road was narrow and the gunman had only asked the vehicle ahead to move faster to ensure smo

'All united on national interest': Tharoor stresses unity amid Iran crisis

Tharoor stressed the importance of cooperation between the Centre and states, emphasising mutual respect and federal collaboration in addressing challenges

BJP marginal player in Kerala, can at best break the duck in polls: Tharoor

Describing the BJP as a marginal player in Kerala polls, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said that the party is not even likely to have a significant enough influence to be a kingmaker in the state and at best can only "break their duck" in the assembly. In an exclusive interview with PTI before embarking on the campaign trail for the Kerala polls, Tharoor emphasised that the contest will primarily be between the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF). "It is not a triangular contest, for the BJP is a zero-seat party in the assembly. From zero, if they go to one or two or three, they will be extremely proud and happy, and they will congratulate themselves on a great win. That is the situation the BJP is in," Tharoor said. "They (BJP) are not even likely to have a big enough footprint to be a kingmaker in the state. It is going to be between the LDF and the UDF, there are no doubts about that," the Thiruvanathapuram MP said. However, he .

Shashi Tharoor awarded honorary D.Litt by St Xavier's, his first in India

Diplomat-turned-Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was on Saturday conferred an honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt) degree at the seventh convocation of St Xavier's University, Kolkata, which he described as his first honorary doctorate in India. The ceremony was held at the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre in New Town, where degrees were awarded to 1,052 undergraduate and postgraduate students. Twenty-five PhD scholars were felicitated and 17 students received gold medals. In a post on X, Tharoor said he was "incredibly honoured and humbled" to receive the Doctorate of Literature (Honoris Causa), recalling that he had been the university's first convocation speaker seven years ago. "I have earned one doctorate the hard way and received a couple of others honoris causa, but this is my first honorary doctorate in India, and it is all the more precious to receive it as a Xaverian," he said. A four-term MP since 2009, Tharoor said he spoke about the values he imbibed during his education at Jes

Tharoor praises AI Summit, says some glitches can happen at any large event

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday praised the AI Impact Summit, saying the first couple of days had gone "extremely well" and "some glitches" can happen at any "large event". He said what has been impressive is the attendance of presidents, prime ministers, and world leaders who have come with a strong message of wanting to see a newly integrated world in artificial intelligence development. While noting that the first couple of days went "extremely well" at the summit, Tharoor said there have been "some glitches" but such issues can happen at big events. His remarks come a day after former Congress president Rahul Gandhi dubbed the ongoing AI Summit in Delhi a "disorganised PR spectacle" and alleged that Chinese products were being showcased there. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and other senior party leaders have also criticised the event, saying alleged mismanagement has resulted in "embarrassment" for the country. Responding to a reporter's question after the .

Congress names Tharoor co-chairman of campaign committee for Kerala polls

The Congress on Thursday set up two key panels for the upcoming Kerala Assembly polls, with Ramesh Chennithala and Shashi Tharoor appointed chairman and co-chairman, respectively, of the party's campaign committee. Tharoor's appointment assumes significance as it comes days after he met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi for redressal of his grievances, after which he said "all is good" and "we are all on the same page". Since then, Tharoor has been seen speaking prominently for the Congress, and also initiated the discussion on the Union Budget in the Lok Sabha. Congress president Kharge has approved the proposal for the constitution of the campaign committee and the manifesto committee of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee for the upcoming Assembly elections, a party statement said. While Chennithala has been named the chairman of the campaign committee, Tharoor has been appointed its co-chairman. Congress MP Shafi Parambil will be the

“Middle class cracking under the strain...”: Shashi Tharoor criticises Union Budget in Lok Sabha

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor criticised the Union Budget, saying it ignores unemployment, soaring living costs, and growing inequality, and does little to address the concerns and aspirations

Tharoor slams govt over Union Budget, India-US trade pact in Lok Sabha

Tharoor slammed the Interim Trade Agreement with the United States, stating that 'it appears far less like a free trade agreement and far more like a pre-committed purchase'

Shashi Tharoor's son Ishaan among staff hit by Washington Post layoffs

The US daily newspaper, owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, eliminated around one-third of its staff, shutting down its sports section and cutting back several foreign bureaus and books coverage

Rahul Gandhi a sincere leader, 'strong voice' against communalism: Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday lauded party leader Rahul Gandhi as a "sincere" person who was a "strong voice" on various issues like communalism in the country. Tharoor said that everyone likes Rahul as he constantly speaks against the politics of communalism, hatred and divisiveness in the country. "I do not have a different opinion on that," the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram told reporters here. Tharoor also said that he had never agreed with any wrong comment against Rahul, saying "he is a sincere leader". His remarks come a day after he met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi for redressal of his grievances, after which he said "all is good" and "we are all on the same page". Tharoor had been upset over the treatment meted out to him at a Kochi event recently and attempts by some leaders to sideline him in Kerala.

'All is good, we are on same page': Tharoor after meeting Kharge, Rahul

Amid reports that he was upset with his party, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and said "all is good" and he is on the "same page" with the leadership. The meeting in Kharge's chamber in Parliament House complex lasted for over an hour. Sources said Congress general secretary K C Venugopal also joined the meeting. "We had a discussion with my two party leaders, the LoP and the Congress president. We had a very good, constructive, positive discussion," Tharoor said. "All is good and we are moving together on the same page, what more can I say," he told reporters in Parliament premises after the meeting. Asked if the issue of chief ministerial face for Kerala polls was discussed, Tharoor said that was never the issue. "I am not interested in being the candidate for anything. At the moment I am already an MP, I have the trust of my voters from Thiruvananthapuram. I have their interest to look after in Parliame

Never violated party line, unapologetic over Op Sindoor stance: Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said he has never violated the party's stated positions in Parliament, asserting that his only public disagreement in principle was over Operation Sindhoor. Answering questions during a session at the Kerala Literature Festival here, Tharoor said he had taken a strong stand on that issue and remained "unapologetic". His statement comes amidst recent reports stating "Tharoor's differences with the party leadership", with a speculation that he is upset over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi not adequately acknowledging his presence at a recent event in Kochi and over alleged repeated attempts by state leaders to sideline him. Explaining his position, Tharoor said that, as an observer and writer, he had written a newspaper column after the Pahalgam incident, stating that it should not go unpunished and that there should be a kinetic response. He said that while India is focused on development, it should not be dragged into a prolonged conflict with ..

Pvt Members' Bills return to spotlight, even as history shows rare success

Despite rarely becoming law, these have left a lasting imprint on India's legislative journey