Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has emphasized that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections should focus on persistent challenges like poverty and disease rather than being overshadowed by a single event, such as the Pulwama attack. Criticizing the BJP-led government, Tharoor accused it of exploiting the February 14 tragedy—in which 40 CRPF soldiers lost their lives—to transform the 2019 polls into a “khaki election” centered on national security.
Tharoor, who is seeking a third term from Thiruvananthapuram, told PTI that the Congress had strong momentum before the Pulwama incident. He argued that the government’s push to frame the election around national security distracts from more pressing, everyday issues. “They’re amplifying a nationalist narrative about protecting the nation in times of crisis, but my party and I believe this isn’t the country’s primary challenge,” said the former diplomat and author.
He stressed that while national security matters, the “daily terror” of hunger, poverty, and disease affects millions of Indians and deserves equal attention. “Elections should address long-term problems, not just a fleeting tragedy. That tragedy has been handled and should be—but the ongoing struggles of our people need solutions too,” he said.
Acknowledging that some polls suggest the BJP has gained ground post-Pulwama, Tharoor said it’s the Congress’s responsibility to refocus voters on core issues. He pointed to a shift in India’s character under BJP rule, citing Home Ministry data that 97% of cow vigilantism-related communal violence has occurred in the last four years. “These are government figures, not ours or an NGO’s—serious crises are unfolding,” he remarked.
Tharoor sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of endorsing violence through silence. “Triumphant majoritarianism celebrates violence while the PM stays quiet. This is an assault on our democracy’s foundations,” he said. He also condemned the Citizenship Amendment Bill, arguing it undermines India’s secular ethos by favoring non-Muslim immigrants from neighboring countries. “Such bigotry was never part of our nationhood,” he added.
Expressing optimism, Tharoor said the BJP doesn’t deserve another term and predicted voters would reject it. On farmer distress, he highlighted that more farmers have died by suicide than from terrorism, including an unprecedented eight cases in Kerala. “We must keep the country safe, but we can’t ignore agrarian distress and other real problems,” he said.
Tharoor dismissed the BJP’s job creation claims, alleging it’s more focused on retaining power in Delhi than ensuring employment for all. He blamed the government’s policies, like demonetization, for a 2% GDP drop and the collapse of small businesses, adding that skill development, exports, and manufacturing have suffered over five “wasted” years.
When asked if the Congress is prepared to challenge the BJP, Tharoor confidently replied, “Absolutely.” He argued that ordinary people are struggling under NDA rule, pointing to the steep rise in LPG cylinder prices—from Rs 390 under UPA to Rs 975 under BJP—and petrol excise duties climbing to Rs 19.48 despite falling global oil prices. “The common person is bearing the brunt of these failures,” he concluded.
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