congress MP Shashi Tharoor has declined an award named after Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, sparking a debate within his party and raising questions about the legacy of the controversial independence-era figure. The award, to be presented today in Delhi by the Sangh-affiliated HRDS India institution with Defence minister Rajnath Singh in attendance, was reportedly offered to Tharoor without his prior knowledge. Tharoor publicly announced his decision to decline via social media, citing a lack of clarity regarding the award and the presenting organization, amid criticism from within the Congress party regarding honoring a figure seen by some as having collaborated with British colonial rule.
New Delhi – Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has declined an award named after Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a controversial figure in Indian history, and will not attend today’s award ceremony in Delhi. The decision comes amid internal party criticism over accepting an honor linked to Savarkar, who remains a divisive figure due to his Hindu nationalist ideology and past relationship with British colonial authorities.
Tharoor announced his decision on social media, stating he only learned of the award through media reports while in Kerala for local elections. “I have come to know from media reports that I have been named a recipient of the ‘Veer Savarkar Award,’ which is to be presented today in Delhi,” he wrote on X. He explained that without clarity on the award’s nature, the presenting organization, or any relevant context, it was difficult to determine whether to attend or accept it.
The controversy within the Congress party stems from Savarkar’s history, including a controversial apology letter to British authorities during India’s independence movement. Senior party leaders, including K. Muraleedharan and Rajmohan Unnithan, publicly opposed Tharoor receiving the award, with Muraleedharan stating that no Congress leader should accept an award bearing the name of someone who apologized to the British.
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Officials from the HRDS organization, which presents the award, claim they informed Tharoor of the honor and that he had initially agreed to attend. They had also announced that Defense Minister Rajnath Singh would present the award. Tharoor, however, stated he was traveling to Kolkata for another engagement.
“There in…,” Tharoor continued in his social media post, explaining his lack of prior knowledge about the award. The decision to decline the award has effectively closed a growing internal debate within the Congress party.
