Congress downplays Tharoor's tweet over new visa rules

Congress today downplayed the tweet of MoS for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor questioning new visa rules, saying his approach has a "human" touch even though the government has security compulsions.

Congress on Monday downplayed the tweet of Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor questioning new visa rules, saying his approach has a "human" touch even though the government has security compulsions.

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"He (Tharoor) has a humanitarian approach on the issue and it has a human touch. But for the government, there are compulsions pertaining to security in the backdrop of terror attacks, particularly 26/11," party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said.

Some party leaders, however, felt Tharoor should avoid making statements, which are bound to trigger controversy.

"A minister should avoid making personal remarks on such issues as it unnecessarily leads to controversies," a senior Congress leader said.

While tweeting, Tharoor had wondered whether tightening of the visa norms made any sense and if it would actually "protect" security as "26/11 killers had no visas".

Tharoor had asked whether India would allow terrorists to make the country a "less welcoming" destination.