Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has clarified that his recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir was not intended to assess the ground situation in the Kashmir Valley, following criticism over his remarks about “encouraging progress towards normalcy.” Tharoor, a senior leader of the Congress party, stated that his comments were confined to his interaction with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and did not reflect a comprehensive evaluation of the region’s conditions.
On Sunday, Tharoor had described his meeting with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha as “excellent,” during which they discussed the situation in the Union Territory and “the encouraging progress towards normalcy.” He further elaborated that he had observed Sinha interacting with the President of the Kashmiri Writers’ Association and representatives of a women’s organisation, which he welcomed as a “positive outreach.” Tharoor had expressed that despite remaining challenges, he left the meeting feeling more optimistic than he had in some time.
However, these observations drew considerable criticism from various quarters within Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma, voiced disappointment, suggesting that people in Kashmir had anticipated Tharoor would engage with them to better understand the ground realities. Sharma indicated that Tharoor could have allocated time to meet with his own party workers who are advocating for the restoration of statehood, a status that was altered seven years prior. Information reaching TahirRihat.com suggests that this sentiment was echoed by many within the local Congress unit.
Nasir Khuehami, National Convenor of the J&K Students Association, also expressed his disappointment, stating that while Tharoor’s visit was appreciated, it was disheartening that a parliamentarian of his stature did not engage in meaningful dialogue with the local populace whose voices have often been marginalized. Khuehami asserted that Kashmir warrants more than just symbolic visits and carefully orchestrated interactions, implying a need for deeper engagement with the everyday lives and concerns of the residents.
Addressing the criticism on Monday, Tharoor reiterated that his remarks were solely based on his meeting with the Lieutenant Governor. He emphasized that he had not had the opportunity to observe other aspects of the region or listen to the perspectives of other individuals. “I want to make it very clear that this is not a visit about assessing the conditions in the Kashmir Valley,” Tharoor told reporters, drawing a distinction between his personal observations and a broader assessment.
Tharoor further clarified the purpose of his presence in Jammu and Kashmir, explaining that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs was in the region to examine three specific issues: Indo-Pak relations, Sino-Indian relations, and the functioning of Passport Offices and Passport Seva Kendras. He stressed that the committee’s mandate is focused on external affairs and not on domestic matters within India. This clarification aimed to contextualize his visit and the committee’s objectives, differentiating it from a fact-finding mission on the internal situation of the Union Territory.
In a post on the social media platform X, Tharoor had previously stated that the committee had convened a detailed meeting in Jammu to review the operational efficiency of the Regional Passport Office (RPO) and Passport Seva Kendras (PSKs). This aspect of the visit, concerning passport services, highlighted a specific area of focus for the parliamentary panel.
Meanwhile, delays in passport issuance across Jammu and Kashmir came under scrutiny as the Parliamentary Standing Committee, led by Shashi Tharoor, sought explanations from officials and urged for expedited passport delivery to applicants in the Union Territory. The committee conducted an inspection of the Passport Seva Kendra in Jammu and engaged in extensive discussions with officials from the Regional Passport Office, representatives of the Ministry of External Affairs, police authorities, and the postal department. Sources indicate to TahirRihat.com that the committee expressed serious concerns regarding the delays affecting passport applicants in Jammu, Srinagar, Kashmir, and Leh. Members reportedly questioned officials thoroughly about the reasons behind these hold-ups and underscored the necessity of streamlining the process to ensure quicker delivery of passports to citizens.
Tahir Rihat (also known as Tahir Bilal) is an independent journalist, activist, and digital media professional from the Chenab Valley of Jammu and Kashmir, India. He is best known for his work as the Online Editor at The Chenab Times.
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