Tharoor still enjoys high-level confidence: Digvijay

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh today said Shashi Tharoor, who was eased out as party spokesman for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, still enjoys a high-level of confidence among the partymen.

"He is still the member of the Congress party; the only thing which has happened is that he has been taken out from the list of spokespersons. That is all. Therefore, to us Shashi Tharoor still enjoys a high level of confidence among Congressmen," Singh said.

Cracking the whip on Monday, the Congress had removed Tharoor as party spokesperson which the Kerala MP had accepted as "loyal  worker of Congress" but suggested he did not get a chance to put his views across.

Singh said Tharoor was a very eminent personality and a party MP from Kerala. "He is one of the most well-known writers of this country, a very well-known diplomat who has served in UN and in the international scene."

Asked about exit polls showing defeat for Congress in both Haryana and Maharashtra Assembly polls, Singh said "you will know on 19th (October), I don't believe in exit polls."
Singh was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an Asian Arab Chamber of Commerce event here which he inaugurated.

On post-poll alliances,he said in Indian politics ideology had taken a back seat and personalities and politicians' ambitions had taken the "front seat". "That is why we have a fight- who will be the Chief Minister?, Who will be the Prime Minister? ...but where is the ideology."

"..it is the ideology which should drive politics, not personality," he said, adding, this happened across party lines.

Singh also welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent visit to Japan and lauded the personal relationship the leaders of both countries share.

"We welcome Prime Minister's visit to Japan and we also welcome his very close personal relationship with the Prime Minister of Japan," he said.

Earlier, highlighting the presence of Japanese delegation at the event and Japanese Friendship Society's decision to launch Indo-Japan Skill Development Council in his inaugural address, Singh said Modi had a very successful trip to Japan. "It is a matter of great comfort that Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe, they both have very close personal relationship."

During Modi's five-day visit recently, Japan promised to give USD 35 billion to India over the next five years for developmental projects.

To a question on firing along the Line of Control by Pakistan, Singh said "..it is not helping either Pakistan or India. Why should we fire at each other, why should we not work together?"

He advocated more people to people contact between two countries. "Why can't we discuss issues of common interest rather than only differences...."

In his address, Singh said both India and Pakistan have common heritage and common problems. "...unfortunately this mindset of the Indo-Pak conflict has created an atmosphere of mistrust, an atmosphere where we cannot sort of see eye to eye with each other."

He said "Kashmir is definitely an issue, but then over the years we have reconciled to the line of control, let it be the line of control and let us concentrate how we can create an atmosphere of trust in business, in trade, in commerce, in manufacturing, and how we can use our friendship, how we can use our resources for the benefit of each other to create more employment opportunities", Singh said.