Tharoor blames media for creating controversy over his statement

NEW DELHI - Reacting to the latest controversy raised over some remarks reportedly made by him Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor claimed becoming a victim of inaccurate and tendentious reporting.

Tharoor clarified his stand and slammed a section of media for inaccurate reporting, in a press conference here.

On Sunday, a section of the media reported Tharoor saying that country’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s policies presented India in a light of “moral self-righteousness.”

This in churned out controversy following Tharoor’s earlier twitting comments and ridiculing the Visa system.

On Saturday, Tharoor said: “The manner in which that both enhanced India’s standing in the world and gave us the negative reputation for conducting foreign policy as a sort of moralistic running commentary on other people’s behaviour.”

During the news conference Tharoor said he was quoted out of context and clarified: “I expressed my agreement with Lord Parekh’s views of Indian civilisation, secularism and pluralism, which accord closely with my own — and indeed with the profound convictions of the Congress Party and the UPA Government.”

“Some TV channels have even run stories on the basis of inaccurate press reporting, without even checking the tape of my remarks. That reflects very poorly on their professionalism or lack thereof,” Tharoor added.

“Irresponsible reporting may briefly gratify a few sensation-seekers in the media, but they do no credit to the need for informed discussion of foreign policy issues in our democracy. India deserves better. So, frankly, do I,” noted Tharoor.

Tharoor recently made the news with his controversial statement on the rigid visa policy that he spelt out in the free social networking and micro-blogging service - Twitter.

His twitter comment on austerity drive suggesting the ministers to travel in economy class also led to much furore. (ANI)