Controversy Surrounds Shashi Tharoor's Remarks on Israel-Hamas Conflict

In a recent turn of events, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor faced criticism for his remarks condemning Hamas' attack on Israel. The Mahal Empowerment Mission (MEM), a Muslim Jamaath body, made the decision to remove Tharoor from the upcoming pro-Palestine rally amidst the controversy.

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In a recent turn of events, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor faced criticism for his remarks condemning Hamas' attack on Israel. The Mahal Empowerment Mission (MEM), a Muslim Jamaath body, made the decision to remove Tharoor from the upcoming pro-Palestine rally amidst the controversy.

The dispute arose after Tharoor's statement at a rally organized by the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a Congress ally, expressing solidarity with Palestine. During his speech, Tharoor equated Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7 with a terrorist strike. This remark drew sharp criticism, with CPI(M) leader M Swaraj asserting that Tharoor was well aware of the historical context preceding October 7.

MEM President Shajahan Sreekaryam confirmed the decision, stating, "We have communicated to Tharoor that we have decided to remove him from the program."

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The IUML event, held in Kerala's Kozhikode, aimed to condemn the reported indiscriminate killings of civilians, including women and children, in Gaza. Tharoor was present as the chief guest, alongside several IUML supporters.

While underscoring the urgency of resolving the conflict, Tharoor also condemned Hamas' attack on Israel as an 'act of terror.'

Responding to the reaction, Tharoor expressed bewilderment that only 25 seconds of his 32-minute speech were highlighted for criticism. He emphasized that if such a brief segment could negate his support for Palestinian human rights, he had nothing further to add. Tharoor also clarified his longstanding solidarity with the people of Palestine and his disagreement with the selective focus on a single sentence from his IUML rally speech.