Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has expressed his disapproval of the controversy surrounding the circulation of cropped photos featuring him and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra. Tharoor, in response to reporters’ questions about the issue, dismissed it as “not a serious issue” and decried the “cheap politics” of trolls who have shared these photos.
The controversy revolves around photos taken during Moitra’s birthday party, where approximately 15 people were present, including Shashi Tharoor. Trolls have disseminated cropped versions of these photos to create a misleading narrative. Tharoor emphasized that the cropped images do not represent the full context of the event.
“My life is dedicated to the people. These types of trolls are a part of cheap politics. In my opinion, this is not a serious issue,” Tharoor stated in response to the controversy.
He further clarified, “It was her birthday party, in which around 15 people, including my sister, participated. Instead of showing the full image, they are spreading the cropped one.” Moitra had previously commented on the controversy, expressing her preference for the green dress over the white blouse and suggesting that the full context of the event should be shown.
This controversy unfolds amid allegations of a cash-for-query scandal in which Moitra has been accused by a Supreme Court advocate and a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker of accepting a “bribe” from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to raise questions in Parliament against the Adani Group. Nishikant Dubey, the BJP MP who submitted a complaint against Moitra to the Lok Sabha Speaker, has requested her suspension from the House pending an investigation.
Mahua Moitra has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that they are an attempt to silence her in Parliament. She has expressed her readiness to face an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to address the matter. The controversy remains a subject of political debate and scrutiny in Indian politics.
