Veer Savarkar Award for Shashi Tharoor: V D Satheeshan Hesitant to Comment to Media

Thiruvananthapuram: V D Satheeshan, the opposition leader in Kerala, silently held his hands together in front of the media in a gesture resembling a prayer and then walked away when asked about Shashi Tharoor MP receiving the Veer Savarkar Award. The incident occurred on Wednesday while he was speaking to the press. When journalists sought his response regarding Tharoor’s Savarkar award controversy, Satheeshan chose not to comment and quietly left the scene.

Shashi Tharoor, who acts as a bridge between Congress and the Sangh parivar in Kerala, receiving the first Savarkar Award from the parivar- affiliated organisation HRDS India, has sparked considerable criticism. It was reported that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh would present the award to Tharoor in Delhi, with Manoj Sinha, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, as the chief guest.

Savarkar, a Hindutva extremist, repeatedly apologised to the British and acted as a spy against his own nation by passing on crucial information about the freedom struggle. He was also implicated in the assassination of Gandhi. Alongside Tharoor, six other individuals are set to receive the award.

The organisers, HRDS, previously stated that Tharoor had expressed willingness to receive the award. Considering Tharoor’s recent statements praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government, the award is being presented. Critics say that the Congress Kerala unit is encouraging Tharoor’s alignment with the Sangh parivar.