A political controversy arose on Monday following Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s declaration that he would not accept the “Veer Savarkar International Impact Award” presented by HRDS India, an NGO. The organization claimed that Tharoor had previously agreed to accept the award.
HRDS India, which focuses on corporate social responsibility initiatives and tribal welfare, announced Tharoor as one of several recipients for an upcoming event in Delhi. Vinayak Damodar Savarkar (1883–1966), after whom the award is named, is recognized for his role in shaping modern Hindutva ideology. His legacy remains contentious, with some historians labeling his views as communal and anti-Muslim, and describing him as an ideological influence on Nathuram Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.
Despite being listed among the awardees for the ceremony on Wednesday, Tharoor issued a statement asserting that he was unaware of the honor and had not consented to accept it. “I only learned about this announcement yesterday in Kerala, where I had gone to vote in the local self-government elections,” Tharoor wrote on X, referring to the social media platform. He characterized the organizers’ actions as “irresponsible” for promoting his name without prior consent.
Tharoor emphasized that due to the ambiguity surrounding the award and its presenting body, he would not attend the event or accept the award. In response, Aji Krishnan, founder and secretary of HRDS India, contended that Tharoor had been informed earlier. He recounted a meeting held at Tharoor’s residence a month prior and another conversation facilitated by jury chairperson Ravi Kanth two weeks ago. Krishnan asserted that Tharoor had consented to attend and discussed details about other recipients. He suggested that Tharoor might have faced pressure from the Congress party.
Krishnan defended Tharoor’s selection for the award, citing his international credentials, including his involvement in a government delegation after Operation Sindoor and an invitation to the state dinner for Russian President Vladimir Putin, where he represented India’s interests.
HRDS India president Master AtmaNambi described the Savarkar award as a meaningful tribute to India’s revolutionary spirit, mentioning that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh would inaugurate it, with Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha as the chief guest.
This incident highlights existing tensions between Tharoor and Congress leadership. Following Tharoor’s attendance at the state dinner for Putin—an invitation extended to him but not to Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge or Rahul Gandhi—the party publicly stated that both those inviting and accepting such invitations should be scrutinized. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera remarked that the leaders would decline similar invitations.
Tharoor clarified that his attendance was in his role as chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, noting that previous chairpersons typically received such invitations.
The announcement of the Savarkar award received criticism within the Congress party. Former Congress state chief K. Muraleedharan argued that no party member should accept an honor named after Savarkar, criticizing him for submitting mercy petitions to the British. “Accepting such an award would insult the Congress,” he stated. CPI(M) leader and Industries Minister P. Rajeev intensified the criticism, claiming that “some people have accepted RSS ideology while remaining in Congress,” using Tharoor’s invitation as evidence of ideological confusion within the party.
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