Tharoor Faces Backlash Over 'Normalcy' Remarks in Kashmir
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday clarified that his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir was not intended to assess ground conditions in the Kashmir Valley, following sharp criticism over his earlier remarks about "encouraging progress towards normalcy." Tharoor, who chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, faced flak from local political leaders and activists who accused him of avoiding meaningful engagement with the people of Kashmir.
On Sunday, Tharoor had posted on social media after meeting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, stating that he discussed "the situation in the state and the encouraging progress towards normalcy." He added that he left the meeting "feeling more positive than I have in a while." The comments drew immediate backlash, with critics questioning his understanding of the region's realities.
Local Leaders Express Disappointment
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma reacted sharply, saying, "People of Kashmir were expecting you to meet them to better understand the ground realities. At least you could have spared some time to meet your own party workers fighting for the restoration of statehood, which was taken away seven years ago."
Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the J&K Students Association, said, "While we appreciate your visit to Kashmir, it is deeply disappointing that a parliamentarian of your stature chose not to engage in meaningful dialogue with the people whose voices have consistently been sidelined." He added, "Kashmir deserves more than symbolic visits and carefully curated interactions."
Tharoor Clarifies Committee Mandate
On Monday, Tharoor clarified that his remarks were limited to his interaction with the Lieutenant Governor. "I have not had a chance to see other things or listen to other people's voices. I want to make it very clear that this is not a visit about assessing the conditions in the Kashmir Valley," he told reporters.
Tharoor explained that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs was in Jammu and Kashmir to examine three specific issues: Indo-Pak relations, Sino-Indian relations, and the functioning of Passport Offices and Passport Seva Kendras. "We are not here to look at domestic matters; that is not our mandate. We are the External Affairs Committee," he said.
Passport Delays Under Scrutiny
The committee's visit also brought to light significant delays in passport issuance across the Union Territory. During an inspection of the Passport Seva Kendra in Jammu, the committee held detailed discussions with officials from the Regional Passport Office, Ministry of External Affairs, police authorities, and the postal department.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, Tharoor said the panel had serious concerns over delays affecting passport applicants in Jammu, Srinagar, Kashmir, and Leh. He said members questioned officials extensively on the reasons behind the hold-ups and stressed the need to streamline the process so that passports reach applicants more quickly.
Committee's Focus on External Affairs
In a post on X, Tharoor noted that the committee held a detailed meeting in Jammu to review the functioning of the Regional Passport Office and Passport Seva Kendras. The visit was part of the committee's broader mandate to oversee external affairs matters, not domestic issues, he reiterated.
The clarification came after a day of intense criticism from various quarters in Kashmir, where many felt Tharoor's initial remarks overlooked the ground realities of the region, including the ongoing demands for restoration of statehood and human rights concerns.
