It has sparked a political controversy following the praise by Shashi Tharoor of the restraint shown by India in dealing with the current West Asia crisis and termed it a model of responsible statecraft. His statements have attracted strong responses to BJP and his own Congress party.
The BJP was quick to capitalize on this statement by Tharoor and they used this statement on Rahul Gandhi and the Congress leadership at large. Minister of State Defence Sanjay Seth praised Tharoor saying that he is always on the side of the country and tells the truth and that Rahul Gandhi must follow the lead of him. Seth also justified the foreign policy of the government making it the diplomacy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that ensured stability and avoided panic over fuel or energy deficit.
Similarly, the BJP spokespersons such as CR Kesavan and Gaurav Bhatia have said that Tharoor has been fair in his position and responsible, unlike what they have called reactive criticism by other Congress leaders.
Nonetheless, his party has not received well the comments made by Tharoor. The leadership of the Congress, Supriya Shrinate, publicly differed with her terming the silence of India on the crisis as something condemnable. The divergent opinions have brought internal divisions in the Congress with regard to foreign policy positions.
This is amidst a mounting tension in the international scene in West Asia and India adopting a diplomatic restraint. Although Tharoor made these remarks with much appreciation on the part of the ruling party, the remarks have caused debate as to whether political unity should take center stage on the international relations aspect or the dissent which is vital in any democracy.