New Delhi: A tweet by Shashi Tharoor triggered a controversy on Monday, forcing the Congress MP and former Union minister to issue an apology.
It was the first day of Parliament’s Winter session, and Tharoor marked the occasion by getting a selfie clicked with six female MPs. He then posted the picture with Supriya Sule, Preneet Kaur, Dr Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Mimi Chakraborty, Nusrat Jahan and Jothimani on his Twitter account.
“Who says the Lok Sabha isn’t an attractive place to work? With six of my fellow MPs this morning: @supriya_sule @preneet_kaur @ThamizhachiTh @mimichakraborty @nusratchirps @JothimaniMP,” Tharoor captioned the post.
The whole selfie thing was done (at the women MPs’ initiative) in great good humour & it was they who asked me to tweet it in the same spirit. I am sorry some people are offended but i was happy to be roped in to this show of workplace camaraderie. That’s all this is. https://t.co/MfpcilPmSB
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 29, 2021
The tweet instantly triggered a row with Tharoor being accused of posting a sexist and offensive tweet.
Netizens reacted sharply, reminding Tharoor that women in Parliament are not “decorative items meant to make your workspace ‘attractive’.”
Another user commented: “What do u want to convey by posting a pic with 6 female MPs and calling Loksabha an ‘attractive’ place to work because of their presence ? What ‘attractions’ do u want to work for the ppl who voted for you ? If u find it unattractive without female colleagues leave politics (sic).”
The series of negative reactions forced Tharoor to say sorry for offending anyone and clarify that the selfie was taken at the female MPs’ initiative.
“The whole selfie thing was done in great good humour & it was they who asked me to tweet it in the same spirit. I am sorry some people are offended but i was happy to be roped in to this show of workplace camaraderie. That’s all this is,” read Tharoor’s subsequent tweet.
