Modi praise: Cong seeks Tharoor's explanation

Thiruvananthapuram: The Congress in Kerala on Tuesday decided to seek an explanation from Shashi Tharoor, MP, who has come under attack for his remark that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should be praised for doing the right things, even as a defiant Tharoor stood by his comment.

Taking a strong view over Tharoor's remarks, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee chief Mullappally Ramachandran said several party leaders and workers have approached the leadership with complaints against Tharoor's "Modi praise."

As his remarks created a furore, Tharoor in a tweet said he has been a "strong critic" of the Modi government and wanted fellow Congressmen to respect his approach even when they do not agree with it.

"I've been a strong critic of the Modi government, & I hope a constructive one. My staunch defence of inclusive values & constitutional principles has won me 3 elections.

I urge my fellow Congressmen to respect my approach even when they don't agree with it," the Thiruvananthapuram MP tweeted.

The former Union minister has been facing flak from party leaders in Kerala in the last few days for his "Modi praise."

Ramachandran said "Congress workers across the country have expressed extreme displeasure over the statement made by Tharoor. Party leaders have also approached me with written complaints.

Hence, KPCC has decided to seek explanation from Tharoor in this regard," he told reporters at Kannur as he waited to receive Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who is on a four-day visit of his Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, which had suffered massive devastation in the rains and landslides.

The state congress chief also said he was unaware of the circumstances in which the pro-Modi remarks had been made by Tharoor and the MP should explain what prompted him to change his earlier stand against the prime minister.

Ramachandran said he was trying to contact Tharoor, who is now abroad, and would convey the party leaders' and cadres' displeasure to him.