1971, 2025 not same: Tharoor responds to Congress's Indira Gandhi campaign amid ceasefire with Pak
New Delhi: Amid the Congress party’s campaign spotlighting former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s leadership during the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, senior party leader Shashi Tharoor emphasised that the current situation in 2025 cannot be equated with the circumstances of 1971.
Speaking to ANI following the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, Tharoor said, “The truth is that the circumstances of 1971 are not the circumstances of 2025. There are differences.” While acknowledging Indira Gandhi’s achievements, he underlined that today’s geopolitical and military realities are vastly different.
“The 1971 victory was a great achievement and Indira Gandhiji rewrote the map of the subcontinent,” Tharoor said. However, he noted that unlike the moral cause of liberating Bangladesh, the recent conflict risked becoming a prolonged war with no clear objective. “Liberating Bangladesh is a clear objective. Just firing shells at Pakistan is not,” he added.
Tharoor stated that while teaching terrorists a lesson was necessary, extending the conflict further would have risked more Indian lives. “We have suffered a lot. Ask the people of Poonch how many have died. This was not a war we intended to continue,” he said, referring to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians.
He asserted that those responsible for the attack must be brought to justice, even if it takes months or years. “But that doesn't mean we should put the entire nation at risk in a prolonged war,” Tharoor warned, stressing the need for peace and national development.
Shortly after the ceasefire announcement, several Congress leaders shared images of Indira Gandhi, seen as a veiled criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's handling of the situation. Responding to this, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia questioned the Congress's silence on former PM Manmohan Singh’s response to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Meanwhile, Congress communications chief Jairam Ramesh demanded an all-party meeting to discuss the ceasefire, and raised concerns over US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s reference to a “neutral site,” suggesting possible third-party involvement in the Kashmir issue.
“Finally, the Indian National Congress believes it is but natural for the country to recall Indira Gandhi for her extraordinarily courageous and resolute leadership in 1971,” Ramesh stated.
#WATCH | Delhi | "1971 was a great achievement, Indira Gandhi rewrote the map of the subcontinent, but the circumstances were different. Bangladesh was fighting a moral cause, and liberating Bangladesh was a clear objective. Just keeping on firing shells at Pakistan is not a… pic.twitter.com/Tr3jWas9Ez
— ANI (@ANI) May 11, 2025
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Minister Parameshwara says remarks on properties linked to drug peddlers 'misunderstood'
Tumakuru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Saturday said his recent remarks on the demolition of properties linked to those involved in narcotics trade were "misunderstood and misinterpreted".
His clarification follows remarks made two days ago on the government's uncompromising crackdown on the drug menace, including action against properties linked to foreign nationals allegedly involved in drug trafficking.
"It is unfortunate. It is taken in the wrong sense. I didn't mean that tomorrow itself I am going to send bulldozers and demolish the houses. That was not my intention. It was wrongly taken," he told reporters here.
Responding to Congress MLC K Abdul Jabbar's question in the legislative council on the growing drug menace in Bengaluru, Davangere and coastal districts, the minister on Thursday detailed the extensive enforcement measures initiated since the Congress government assumed office.
Pointing to the involvement of some foreign nationals, the minister had said, "Many foreign students from African countries have come to Karnataka. They are into the drug business. We catch them and register cases against them, but they want the case to be registered because once the case is registered, we cannot deport them."
"We have gone to the extent of demolishing the rented building where they stay," he had said.
