Tharoor writes to Sonia: Malicious press leaks are trying to portray I’m isolated in the party

When contacted, the Thiruvananthapu-ram MP refused to confirm or deny the authenticity of the letter. “I will neither confirm nor deny because even responding to such a question legitimises your line of inquiry,” Tharoor told The Indian Express.

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Referring to newspaper reports about the party’s reaction after he allegedly expressed views at an internal meeting, Tharoor reportedly said in the letter: “Very clearly, those who had spoken to the media after Thursday’s meeting were trying to embarrass me, and perhaps discourage me from expressing my views in future meetings.”

Tharoor’s letter has apparently confirmed the reports that he was criticised by the Congress chief. “…Your comments this morning were based on the assumption that I was responsible for the leaks. Why on earth would I have spoken to the media to undermine myself and my standing within the party?” the letter asks.

Pointing out that he has refused to comment on the news reports “in the interests of party loyalty”, Tharoor said the “leakers” however, must be very happy since they have succeeded not only in discrediting him, but also in apparently enlisting Sonia’s name for the purpose.

He also argued in the letter that ever since his personal tragedy and the “ghoulish attention” he got from the media afterwards, he has always been speaking to the media on record and always refrained from “whisper secrets and gossip.”

He said the forum created by Sonia Gandhi was for frank discussions and has been a great positive for the party.

“I agree with Rahul (Gandhi) that the fact that the party entertains differing views does not in itself harm us; what does us damage are the sly attempt by some to portray them as evidence of something they are not — dissidence or disloyalty,” he said.

There was a tinge of disappointment also. “I have served the party’s interests with sincerity and to the best of my ability while often feeling that this has neither been seen nor appreciated. The events of the last 24 hours sadly suggest that this remains the case,” Tharoor said.