Tharoor calls it an experience,not a setback

During his first visit to his home state after his resignation,Shashi Tharoor on Saturday chose to position his resignation as a setback...

During his first visit to his home state after his resignation,Shashi Tharoor on Saturday chose to position his resignation as a setback for Keralas development. Tharoor termed the IPL controversy that led to his exit as the minister of state for external affairs as a thorn that got stuck in his foot during his run to help Kerala gain upon other states. But that thorn is not seen as a wound,but as an experience, he said.

Referring to the PMs observation about the ups and down in politics,Tharoor said that he had had several ups in life. Now the time for downs has come. In the past,I had overcome several trials. With the support of Congress activists,I am confident of conquering this ordeal also, he said.

Tharoor was given a rousing reception at the airport,followed by another one at the District Congress Committee office. While his supporters turned out in large numbers,not a single state-level Congress leader was present at the airport or the party office.

Keen not to land in fresh trouble,Tharoor kept away from the media through out the programmes in Thiruvananthapuram and also cancelled a scheduled meet-the-press programme. His former OSD Jacob Joseph,who had precipitated many a crisis for the ex-diplomat, was conspicuous by his absence.

This reception is a great relief for me. My confidence stems from your brimming support. I have kept my word to strive for the development of Kerala. I have tried only to fulfil that. I have only used my contact to fulfil the dream of an IPL team for Kerala. While toiling for Kerala and Thiruvananthapuram,that incident happened. On last Monday,the first day after the resignation,I received at my home the delegates from Barcelona to push forward a development plan for the state capital,planned in association with that city, he said.

He said that the Kerala economy would benefit from the IPL. In India and across various parts of the world,I had been advocating for the cause of Thiruvananthapuram. I had only Thiruvananthapuram and Kerala in my mind, said Tharoor. Tharoor said he was pained by the allegation that he was in the IPL to make money. I have never faced such charges in my life. Now,at the age of 54,I do not think that a person is going to change.