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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National Herald case: Shivakumar to seek time next week to appear before Delhi police
New Delhi/Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Monday said he will ask for time from Delhi police to appear before them next week, to provide required information as part of the probe into the National Herald case.
He said he will seek time after the ongoing winter session of Karnataka legislature ends on December 19. He will also ask the Delhi police to provide him the FIR copy.
Shivakumar, who is in the national capital, had earlier said that he will appear before the Delhi police on Monday. But, he postponed the plan in order to rush back to Karnataka to participate in the last rites of veteran Congress leader Shamanuru Shivashankarappa, scheduled later in the day in Davangere.
"I had to go (to appear before the Delhi police), but I have to go back urgently. I'm asking them for time, stating that I will come next week," Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi.
"They (Delhi police) have not attached the FIR copy while issuing notice to me. I need FIR copy, because we had already given all the required replies to the ED. I don't know what the FIR says, I only read in papers. They have given notice, I will ask for a FIR copy. I will come next week after the Assembly session."
The Delhi Police had issued a notice to Shivakumar, who is also the Karnataka Congress chief, seeking financial and transactional details as part of its probe into the National Herald case.
The notice issued by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) states that Shivakumar is "supposed to be having vital information" pertaining to the National Herald case registered on October 3 this year, against top Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
In the notice dated November 29, the EOW had asked Shivakumar to appear before it or provide the requested information by December 19 latest.
Investigators have sought details about his personal background, his association with the Congress party, and a complete break up of funds allegedly transferred by him or associated entities to Young Indian.
To a question on meeting AICC General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala, amid the ongoing power tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the Chief Minister post, Shivakumar said when he comes to Delhi, he usually meets every one.
"Whether it is Surjewala or Kharge (AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge) or Venugopal, I will meet everyone. During lunch yesterday I met Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. I have met everyone. What's wrong?" he asked.
Shivakumar was in Delhi to take part in Congress' "Vote Chori" rally on Sunday, and had also participated in the lunch organised by the party for its leaders.
Responding to a question, whether any meeting is planned with leaders today, the Deputy CM said, he and Kharge will be travelling together to Karnataka, to pay last respects to Shamanuru Shivashankarappa.
Asked if he will seek time for a separate meeting with Congress leadership including Rahul Gandhi, during the next visit to Delhi, Sivakumar said, "such things will be there between us in the party.... you don't worry."
