Cong leaves it on Tharoor to defend his IPL Rendezvous

NEW DELHI: Congress might not be rushing to the defence of minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor, but neither is it, for the moment, disowning the beleaguered minister. The party distanced itself from the IPL imbroglio in which Mr Tharoor now finds himself by saying that it doesn’t comment on the business of sport, leaving him to fend for himself. Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said, “the party has nothing to do with this issue. This is cricket politics which is a separate matter altogether and he has to explain his position himself.”

The party’s measured response is partly on account of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s absence from the country. Congress is of the view that should further revelations make Mr Tharoor’s position in the council of ministers untenable, the final decision would have to be taken by the prime minister. In doing so, the party has made a clear demarcation between itself and the government on the Tharoor issue.

Congress is also concerned about further revelations that could emerge about Mr Tharoor’s involvement in procuring an IPL team for Kochi. Adopting a wait and watch policy, Congress will look out for more dirt that could come out in the coming days.

The party’s position on Mr Tharoor will also depend on how the matter unfolds in Parliament, which resumes business on Thursday. BJP and Left are expected to paralyse proceedings on the issue of Mr Tharoor’s involvement in procuring an IPL team for Kochi.

Even as it maintains a studied silence on matters “relating to the business of sport”, the party has left the door open for a future defence of the beleaguered minister.

On Tuesday afternoon, Congress presented a modicum of defence for the minister. Responding to the BJP’s call for sacking Mr Tharoor, Congress said that such a demand was “absurd”. Party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said that Mr Tharoor’s role in having a IPL team from Kochi was “not an embarrassment...As an elected member from Kerala, Mr Tharoor’s desire to have team from there is not illogical or unwarranted.” At the same time, Mr Ahmed made it clear that the party would not comment on the “financial aspects” of the controversy.

Sticking to the Congress line that it doesn’t comment on the “business of sport” Mr Ahmed said: “We are not concerned with the financial aspect of the issue. Mr Tharoor himself has denied any financial involvement with the team. These are the issues which the administration of the cricket body should comment upon.”