Tharoor Denies Savarkar Award; Organisers Claim Prior Intimation as Political Row Intensifies Today

Unaware, Unaccepted’: Tharoor Refutes Savarkar Award Claim.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has found himself at the centre of a fresh controversy after being named a recipient of the “Veer Savarkar International Impact Award 2025,” an honour he firmly denies agreeing to accept.

Tharoor stated he was “neither aware, nor had accepted” the award, claiming he first learned about it through media reports while in Kerala and criticising the organisers for irresponsibly announcing his name without seeking his consent. 

He clarified he would not attend the New Delhi ceremony, citing a lack of transparency regarding the award and the organisation presenting it. However, the organisers—HRDS India—disputed his version, with Secretary Aji Krishnan alleging that their team had met Tharoor at his residence, informed him about the recognition, and even received a request from him for a list of other awardees, suggesting his withdrawal was due to political pressure from his party.

 The issue gained traction within Congress, where leaders like K. Muraleedharan urged Tharoor to reject any honour associated with V.D. Savarkar, a figure the party has historically criticised.

The award ceremony, expected to be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, has thus turned into a politically charged flashpoint, with conflicting narratives between Tharoor and the organisers adding to the controversy.