Shashi Tharoor Rejects “Veer Savarkar Award,” Cites Lack of Consent and Clarity on Event
Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday, made a clear declaration that he would not participate in the presentation of the "Veer Savarkar Award" nor accept it. He said it was brought to his attention for the first time and he had never agreed to accept the award.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) December 10: On Wednesday, Shashi Tharoor (Congress MP) definitively stated he would not accept or attend the event at which he would be awarded the “Veer Savarkar Award” & indicated he was unaware of the award and had never consented to receive it. Shashi Tharoor also stated that he would not go to the ceremony, without sufficient explanation.
Congress MP Labels Organizers Irresponsible for Premature Announcement
Tharoor also pointed out that the people who put this event together have been irresponsible, by proclaiming to have his endorsement without first getting his confirmation.
The Congress MP said, "I have come to know from media reports that I have been named a recipient of the 'Veer Savarkar Award,' which is to be presented today in Delhi. I only learned about this announcement yesterday in Kerala, where I had gone to vote in the local self-government elections" in a post on social media platform X.
"There in Thiruvananthapuram, responding to media queries, I had clarified that I was neither aware of, nor had accepted, such an award, and it was irresponsible on the part of the organisers to announce my name without my having agreed to receive it," he added.
Tharoor Denies Prior Knowledge
As reporters in Delhi continued asking whether Tharoor planned to attend the event, Tharoor provided strong affirmations of not attending.
“In the absence of clarifications about the nature of the award, the organisation presenting it or any other contextual details, the question of my attending the event today or accepting the award does not arise,” he said.
HRDS India Organizer Claims Meeting with Tharoor Before Award Naming
After Tharoor spoke about his remarks, Ajit Krishnan, Secretary of HRDS India, who is the organizer of the inaugural Veer Savarkar International Impact Award 2025, disseminated Tharoor.
Krishnan indicated that representatives from the HRDS and the Award Jury Chairman met Tharoor at his home, and Tharoor requested to see the names on the list of the other award winners.
“We gave him the list. He has not yet informed us that he will not attend. Perhaps he is scared as the Congress has made it an issue,” Krishnan said.
Veer Savarkar International Impact Award 2025 Ceremony to Proceed in Delhi
Veer Savarkar International Impact Award 2025 will be awarded on 10 December in New Delhi. It will be held at the NDMC Convention Hall. The event will be held in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Tharoor was one of the recipients of the inaugural Veer Savarkar International Impact Award 2025 presented by HRDS India.
