Shashi Tharoor Faces Backlash for Praising LK Advani on 98th Birthday, Sparks Online Controversy
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's birthday greetings and tribute to LK Advani's "life of dedication and commitment", invited attacks on social media, following which a Supreme Court lawyer accused the former of picking up cudgels for the BJP veteran who allegedly played divisive politics.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) November 9: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is under controversy again about a BJP leader. That is was this time for 'saving' the political legacy of former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani which should be more than a few hundred years and that, like Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi who were Prime Ministers earlier or later in jail at some point, BJP's own ancient being could not be reduced to one incident.
Birthday Tribute Turns Contentious
Though the Congress has mainly expressed disapproval towards Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) veteran LK Advani for the Rath Yatra, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor Tharoor on Sunday defended him saying that a person can not be defined by just 'one episode'. The Congress MPhad said this while responding to an X post after he greeted Advani on his 98th birthday on Saturday.
Tharoor tweeted about his fond memories with the BJP patriarch. Advani is a "genuine statesman whose contribution to politics and nation building has been monumental," Tharoor said.
Shashi Tharoor said, "Wishing the venerable Shri L.K. Advani a very happy 98th birthday! His unwavering commitment to public service, his modesty & decency, and his role in shaping the trajectory of modern India are indelible.”
Social Media Erupts
There was a brief exchange between Tharoor and the senior advocate in which the Congress leader defended legacy of Advani, who he compared to former PMs Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
Lawyer’s Strong Rebuttal
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's birthday wishes for LK Advani and his praise for the BJP veteran's "life of service" triggered flak from online users, including a Supreme Court advocate who accused the Congress leader of sweeping under the carpet Advani's involvement in divisive politics.
Hedge said, “The Rath Yatra was not an episode. It was a long march to reverse the foundational principles of the Indian Republic. It set the stage for 2002 and 2014 and thereafter. Like Draupadi's dishonour set the stage for the Mahabharata that followed, the Rathyatra and it's legacy of violence continue to haunt the destiny of this country. From his current bed of arrows, he has not preached any Rajdharma either."
Historical Context
The Ram Rath Yatra (popularly referred to as Rath Yatra) was conducted from September to October 1990 to mobilise support for the Ram Janambhoomi movement. It is widely accused of instigating the destruction of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh in December 1992.
