While Rahul Gandhi used his visit to ailing Parrikar to score political points through lies, Niramala Sitharaman visits injured Shashi Tharoor in hospital, shows genuine concern. Even Shashi Tharoor praised the Defence Minister’s gesture.
In a gesture of mutual respect and statesmanship, Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman paid visit to senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who is undergoing treatment in a Kerala hospital currently. Shashi Tharoor had sustained injuries to his head during his campaign visit to a temple in Kerala.
Shashi Tharoor, who will be contesting from the Thiruvananthapuram Parliamentary Constituency, tweeted a picture of the visit by the Defence Minister and reiterated the sense of civility and respect. He said “Touched by the gesture of Nirmala Sitharaman, who dropped by today morning to visit me in the hospital, amid her hectic electioneering in Kerala. Civility is a rare virtue in Indian politics – great to see her practice it by example!”
Touched by the gesture of @nsitharaman, who dropped by today morning to visit me in the hospital, amid her hectic electioneering in Kerala. Civility is a rare virtue in Indian politics – great to see her practice it by example! pic.twitter.com/XqbLf1iCR5
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) April 16, 2019
Indian politics has witnessed such gestures of goodwill a number of times; however some politicians have marred these scant gestures with clouds of political dirt. Congress Chief Rahul Gandhi had also gone on a ‘similar’ meet with late Shri Manohar Parrikar; however Rahul Gandhi was not short of exploiting his visit to the ailing leader to churn out political points.
While Nirmala Sitharaman’s visit was laced with mutual regard, she took out time out of her hectic campaigning schedule to meet a fellow colleague, Rahul’s attempt, on the other hand, give a clear picture of a difference of culture prevailing at the two ends of the Indian political spectrum.
After meeting with the ailing leader Rahul Gandhi had said, “Friends, ex-defence minister Mr. Parrikar clearly stated that he has nothing to do with the new deal that was orchestrated by Mr. Narendra Modi to benefit Anil Ambani,” continuing his narrative of the MMRCA deal.
However it was not long when Shri Manohar parrikar demolished Rahul’s attempts to politicize their meet and in a press release exposed Rahul’s attempts to score political points. He said “I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 5 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.”
Goa CM Manohar Parrikar writes to Congress President Rahul Gandhi, writes "I feel let down that you have used this visit for your petty political gains. In the 5 minutes you spent with me, neither did you mention anything about Rafale, now did we discuss anything related to it.' pic.twitter.com/HbUX6yiDk3
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2019
This callous act by Rahul Gandhi had invited widespread criticism, many called out Rahul for his insensitive and a soulless act to use the condition of an ailing leader to forward his political agenda. Giving another picture of the culture prevailing in top brass of the Congress. In one end is Nirmala Sitharaman showing genuine concern for a fellow colleague on the other hand there is Rahul Gandhi again giving an example of his immature and sham political acumen.
Shashi Tharoor , during his visit to Gandhari Amman Kovil temple in Thampanoor,had suffered injuries to his head, when the weighing scale on which he was sitting broke and he fell on the floor. The Congress leader was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital and later shifted to a multi-specialty hospital. Shashi Tharoor got 11 stitches and is out of any danger, the doctors added.
