It all began with the Thiruvananthapuram MP lavishing praise on the Pinarayi Government for its success in establishing 2, 90,000 MSMEs since 2022. Tharoor’s laudatory references came in an article he wrote for the New Indian Express. “God’s Own Country was no more the Devil’s Own Playground for business”, Tharoor gushed borrowing Kerala’s tagline for tourism promotion.

Not surprisingly, Tharoor’s article drew trenchant criticism from many Congress leaders including Leader of the Opposition (LoP) V. D. Satheesan and former LoP Ramesh Chennithala. The burden of their song was that by praising the Pinarayi Government, Tharoor has given the political rival a huge propaganda advantage, with the local bodies elections in the State months away.

Tharoor, however, justified his stand by arguing that his article was based on the facts, figures and dates as well as the Global Start-up Ecosystem Report and Kerala’s performance. The ranking is not released by the CPI(M), he pointed out. “We cannot bring politics in to everything, especially where public interest is concerned.”

As for the LDF, both Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and State Industries Minister P. Rajiv have welcomed Tharoor’s article, and praised him for appreciating the achievements of the State Government. The Congress leaders should not convert their hate for the LDF into hate for the State, Pinarayi averred.

Of course, the criticism against Tharoor has been tamped down by the intervention of the party high Command. Rahul Gandhi told Tharoor to refrain from making statements which the LDF would use to its advantage. He also asked the Congress leaders in Kerala to stop the open war of words.

The episode has, however, exposed the double standards practised by the Congress leaders in the State. In his complaint to the High Command Tharoor has claimed that he is being unfairly singled out for criticism.

He has a point. For instance, nobody came out with critical comments when LoP V D Satheesan praised State Education Minister V. Sivankutty for his efficient conduct of Kerala Youth Festival and a sports meet. The party leaders who are critical of Tharoor maintained a deafening silence on that occasion. Nor were there any demands for taking action again Satheesan. If this is not double standards, what is? That is the million dollar question.

Again, when Satheesan and Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Sudhakaran indulged in an open, no-holds-barred verbal warfare against each other, there was no clamour for action against them. Rahul Gandhi himself had come out with appreciating comments on the LDF Government’s performance in the past. Former chief minister A. K. Antony has also praised Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem in the erstwhile LDF Government for his cooperation and help in establishing defence projects in the State. This happened when Antony was the Union Defence Minister Last but not the least, no chorus of criticism erupted when former President of India Pranab Mukherjee addressed an RSS-organised function on the invitation of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat.

If anything, Tharoor should be complimented for his praise of a Government led by the Congress’s political rival. Criticism for the mere sake of criticism is not good. Leaders cutting across the political divide should not hesitate to appreciate the good work done by governments irrespective of their political affiliation. That is the way politics should be conducted in a democratic country. Healthy politics presupposes civility and decency towards political opponents. The politics of hate is a luxury the country cannot afford.

In an interesting development, the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the CPI(M )’s youth wing, has invited Tharoor to speak at the start-up festival it is organising in March. A DYFI delegation led by its president A. A. Rahim called on Tharoor in New Delhi the other day to hand over the invitation. Although Tharoor appreciated the DYFI offer, he expressed his inability to attend the event because of prior commitments. (IPA Service)