Sashi Tharoor speaking at Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode. Photo: G. RageshKozhikode: In a scathing attack on the rising tendency to use idealistic notions like patriotism to target dissenters and political opponents, writer-politician Sashi Tharoor Saturday said that nationalism was being increasingly made a tool to suppress the voice of rivals in recent times.
"I have no problem in saying 'Bharat Mata ki Jai', but I wouldn't do that if (BJP president) Amit Shah asks me to do so," Tharoor told a cheering crowd here while attending session of the Kerala Literarture Festival.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP said the Supreme Court order, which mandated the playing of the national anthem in theaters before each screening, was unwarranted.
"Nationalism should not be made a mere show. It should come from within one's heart,” he said, adding that one should have the right to choose whether to say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' or not.
Tharoor advocated the presidential system of government in India in a bid to tackle rising corruption and unaccountability.
"Not only those in power in Delhi (the national capital), but those heading local body governments such as panchayats and municipalities should be elected directly and thus have more powers to take decisions," he said citing the Chinese model of administration. However, he made it clear that it is difficult to implement such an idea as the political parties may not support it.
