Tharoor’s Emergency Article Sparks Congress-BJP Clash

### Swift Summary:
– Congress MP shashi Tharoor sparked controversy over his article in Malayalam daily *Deepika*, where he described the 1975 Emergency as a “dark chapter.”
– Mr. Tharoor noted that the people responded to the excesses of the Emergency by voting Indira Gandhi out of power by a significant margin.
– Congress MP Manickam Tagore indirectly criticized Mr. Tharoor, stating, “When a colleague repeats BJP lines word for word…the bird becomes a parrot.”
– The BJP reacted by claiming it took 50 years for a Congress leader to acknowledge Emergency’s negative legacy while accusing some members of holding onto its “mindset.”
– Congress has not issued an official response or addressed Mr. Tharoor’s criticism publicly.- Tensions within Congress surrounding Mr. Tharoor have been apparent earlier,including disagreements with party leadership and comments lauding Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy approach.

### Indian Opinion analysis:
The friction between Shashi Tharoor and sections within his own party highlights ongoing ideological tensions within the Congress regarding its past actions, especially during contentious periods like the Emergency. While Mr. Tharoor’s acknowledgment represents an evolving perspective on ancient accountability, public criticism from party colleagues could indicate deeper divisions regarding strategic alignment amid BJP’s attacks on legacy issues.

For India as a democracy,this debate underscores how reflections on historical events such as the Emergency can foster broader dialogues about political accountability and institutional integrity-both critical for democratic progress moving forward.

[read More](https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/congress-in-kerala-scrambles-to-stay-clear-of-shashi-tharoors-controversial-article-on-emergency/article69795402.ece)