Tharoor criticises Nehru’s ‘moralistic’ foreign policy

It’s not a tweet. But minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor is in trouble again.

Tharoor has crossed the Lakshman Rekha drawn by the Congress by publicly criticising the foreign policy of India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his mentor Mahatma Gandhi. Tharoor said the “foreign policy of Nehru and Gandhi was more like a moralistic running commentary.”

In an event organised by the association of Indian diplomats and the Indian Council of World Affairs in London, Labour MP Bhikhu Parekh had flayed the Nerhu-Gandhi policy. Parekh said Nehru’s policies presented India in a context of “moral self-righteousness”, which was one of his mistakes. Tharoor echoed Parekh’s views.

The Congress, however, has disassociated from the view of Tharoor. The party high command is upset over the repeated anti-Congress and anti-government utterances by Tharoor.

MEA sources told DNA that he (Tharoor) seems to have made up his mind to embarrass the government and his repeated statements are a proof of such an intention. “He had been warned on two occasions over his tweets. He feels he is likely to be out of the ministry, and is playing a hero. Or else, he woud not have made such a public statement, that too at an international platform.”

Sources added that Tharoor would be summoned by minister of external affairs SM Krishna on his arrival to explain his stance. Severe action is likely to follow as the Congress high command is upset over his cavalier approach. “The London incident has been viewed very seriously by the MEA as well as by the party,” the sources said.