Vayalar Ravi terms Tharoor's remarks on Nehru 'very unfair'

Taking exception to the remark of his party colleague Shashi Tharoor on Jawaharlal Nehru, senior Congress leader and overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi today said such comments are "very unfair."     "I believe when somebody analyse Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi in the present context, that only shows ignorance," Ravi said addressing an NRI award function here.Minister of state for external affairs Shashi Taroor had earlier today hit out at the media claiming that they had misreported his remarks on Jawaharlal Nehru and said he was dismayed at the "inaccurate and tendentious reporting".     Ravi said the leaders should not be evaluated in the 21st century environment but be assessed by their policies during their time and their contribution towards India's freedom struggle and against colonialism."We should understand Indian values. Simply making an assessment and comment is very unfair," Ravi said.     Congress had yesterday expressed its surprise at the reported criticism of the foreign policy of Nehru by Tharoor.     Party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed had said, "I am very surprised by the style of Tharoor. He is a member of Congress and his responsibility is to carry forward the legacy of Pandit Nehru and not to be critical of it."

Inviting NRIs to invest in the country's social infrastructure, Ravi sought their suggestions in the development process.The minister also said the Government is willing to forge partnerships with the NRIs to increase "economic production inthe country".He said his Ministry is also working towards implementation of a programme that would recognise the contribution made by persons of Indian origin for development of social infrastructure in rural areas.