Shashi Tharoor's removal as spokesperson has nothing to do with Sunanda case, says Congress

Kochi: Congress leader Shobha Oza clarified on Monday that Shashi Tharoor’s removal as spokesperson had ‘nothing to do with Sunanda Pushkar's case.’

Read: Price for praising Modi? Congress removes Shashi Tharoor as party spokesperson

Addressing a press conference, Shobha Oza said, "When a spokesperson makes remarks it is usually taken as party's opinion," adding, "The Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) acted on the disciplinary committee's recommendation."

"Tharoor's sacking as spokesperson has nothing to do with Sunanda Pushkar's case," she clarified.

Meanwhile, Congress leader P.C. Chacko justified the decision to remove Shashi Tharoor as the spokesperson, saying it was essential for a party spokesperson to be restrained.

"One has to be restrained when they are a party spokesperson which might be the reason he has been removed. I don't know whether he went against the Congress or not, but as a spokesperson his statement should have been on the party lines," said Chacko.

One has to be restrained when they are a spokesperson: PC Chacko on Shashi Tharoor pic.twitter.com/B37PyeRA8H

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 13, 2014

"However, he is still a member of the Congress party. As an individual one can have many opinions, but when one is a party spokesperson one needs to be careful about what one says," he added.

Read: ‘I am now treating this matter as closed’: Shashi Tharoor

Meanwhile, Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit stressed the need to be critical of the government to make it more efficient.

"Our work is to be the opposition, not to be a part of their work. We want efficiency from the government. So, our work is to see how they are working," said Dikshit.

Our work is to be the opposition, not be a part of their work: Sandeep Dikshit, Congress on Shashi Tharoor pic.twitter.com/VXoooBQau8

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 13, 2014

Earlier on Monday, the Congress relieved Tharoor from his duties as the party spokesperson.

The decision was taken after the Congress' Kerala unit complained against Tharoor's conduct and behaviour to the party high command.

Congress leadership takes their decision as per the requirement of the party: Salman Khurshid on Shashi Tharoor pic.twitter.com/EwVfwWSjtl

— ANI (@ANI_news) October 13, 2014

Earlier this month, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) had taken disciplinary action against Tharoor, accusing him of praising Prime Minister Modi's policies.

The KPCC had also spoken out against Tharoor after he had accepted the Prime Minister's invitation to join the 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'.

Prime Minister Modi, who launched the Swachh Bharat campaign on October 2, had invited Tharoor to join the drive to clean India.

Tharoor, while accepting the Prime Minister's invitation, had said that he was honoured to accept the invitation to join the campaign.