Congress MP Shashi Tharoor denies nomination claims for 'Veer Savarkar Award'
PTC News Desk: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday denied claims that he has been nominated for the “Veer Savarkar Award,” stating that he neither knew about the honour nor consented to accept it.
In a statement posted on X, Tharoor said he first learned of the award through news reports while he was in Kerala to vote in the local self-government elections. “Responding to media queries, I clarified that I was neither aware of, nor had accepted, such an award,” he said.
Tharoor criticised the organisers for announcing his name without his consent. “It was irresponsible on the part of the organisers to announce my name without my having agreed to receive it,” he said, adding that no details had been shared about the nature of the award or the organisation behind it.
I have come to know from media reports that I have been named a recipient of the "Veer Savarkar Award," which is to be presented today in Delhi.
I only learned about this announcement yesterday in Kerala, where I had gone to vote in the local self-government elections.
There in… — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) December 10, 2025
Congress MP issued unequivocal denial over repeated questions about whether he would attend the event or not. “In the absence of clarifications about the nature of the award, the organisation presenting it or any other contextual details, the question of my attending the event today or accepting the award does not arise,” he said.
Earlier senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan strongly asserted that no party leader shall accept any award named after VD Savarkar- whom he alleged bowed down before the British. He said he did not believe Tharoor would accept it as doing so would be sheer insult to the Congress party.
Responding to the controversy, Kerala Law Minister P Rajeev said it was Tharoor’s prerogative whether to accept or decline the award.
- With inputs from agencies
