Tharoor maintains silence on visa remark controversy

Tharoor, who made his first public appearance here since the controversy broke on Sunday, refused to speak to journalists who virtually chased him for about an hour for a comment as he went around a handicrafts exhibition after inaugurating it.

A broad smile was Tharoor's only answer to a volley of questions on his comments and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna pulling him up for discussing official issues on Twitter, a social networking site.

Krishna has publicly criticised Tharoor for using 'Twitter' for questioning the relevance of tightening of visa norms in the backdrop of David Headley episode.

At the function, Samata Party chief Jaya Jaitely commented in a lighter vein on Tharoor's twitting habits. "Copenhagen climate change conference highlighted the impacts of global warming. Natural fibres can reduce the impact... Tharoor can use some of his comments on Twitter for this (issue)."

In his speech, Tharoor said use of natural fibres should be promoted from the ground level and the government would take steps to promote natural fibres.