Our Bureau
Thiruvananthapuram
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has publicly criticized the Kerala government’s decision to send Rs 10 crore in aid to Turkey following the devastating 2023 earthquake, calling it “misplaced generosity” in light of recent diplomatic tensions between India and Turkey. Tharoor’s remarks, made on social media, have reignited debate over the state’s humanitarian gesture as relations between the two countries deteriorate.
Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram in Parliament, questioned the wisdom of the aid, suggesting that the funds could have been better utilized to address local needs, specifically mentioning the district of Wayanad. “I hope the Govt of Kerala reflects on its misplaced generosity, after seeing Turkey’s behaviour two years later! Not to mention that the people of Wayanad could have used those ten crores far better,” Tharoor posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The controversy comes amid heightened diplomatic strain after Turkey openly supported Pakistan during India’s recent Operation Sindoor, a military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that claimed 26 civilian lives. Reports indicate that Turkey provided weapons to Pakistan during the conflict, prompting India to revoke the operating clearance of Turkish aviation firm Celebi at Indian airports and sparking calls for a boycott of Turkish goods.
Kerala’s Rs 10 crore donation, announced by Finance Minister K N Balagopal in February 2023, was initially defended as a humanitarian response to the catastrophic earthquake that killed tens of thousands in Turkey. “The earthquake in Turkiye, which had shocked the consciousness of the world, claimed tens of thousands of lives and left lakhs of people destitute,” Balagopal stated at the time.
However, critics like Tharoor now argue that such gestures should be reconsidered in light of shifting geopolitical realities. The debate highlights the complex intersection of humanitarian aid and foreign policy, as well as the ongoing challenge of balancing global solidarity with local priorities.
