Shashi Tharoor faces backlash for tweet about ‘misguided Malayalis’ joining Taliban
The Congress MP was commenting about a video that claimed to show Taliban fighters weeping in joy on reaching Kabul.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday faced intense criticism on social media for suggesting that there were Malayali fighters among the Taliban in Afghanistan.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP made the comments in response to a video of purported Taliban fighters weeping with joy on reaching Kabul. “It sounds as if there are at least two Malayali Taliban here – one who says ‘samsarikkette’ around the 8-second mark & another who understands him!” Tharoor had said on Twitter.
The video was shared by a Twitter user named Ramiz, who claims in his bio to be interested in conflict journalism.
It sounds as if there are at least two Malayali Taliban here — one who says “samsarikkette” around the 8-second mark & another who understands him! https://t.co/SSdrhTLsBG
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 17, 2021
In response, Ramiz clarified that they were Baloch fighters from Zabul province of Afghanistan who were speaking Brahui. The Brahui language is a Dravidian language spoken in parts of Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan.
Tharoor termed it an “interesting explanation”, but said that there have indeed been Malayalis who joined the Taliban in the past.
Interesting explanation. WIll leave it to the linguists to figure this one out. But there have indeed been misguided Malayalis who joined the Taliban, so that possibility cannot be ruled out entirely. https://t.co/B6AuIqvjHf
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 17, 2021
Tharoor’s tweets prompted a backlash, with several Twitter users accusing him of making speculative statements and giving ammunition to hate campaigns against Kerala.
“This is highly problematic,” said journalist Korah Abraham on Twitter. “Making statements like this especially when the Right Wing eco system is going on a hate campaign against Kerala regarding people joining jihadist groups. And you being an MP from Kerala’s capital should be knowing better.”
Another Twitter user, Ralph Robert, urged Tharoor not to spread “conspiracy theories”.
Yeah, leave it to the linguists to figure out if it's actually Malayalam before tweeting conspiracy theories like "Two" Malayali Talibans speaking "Samsaarikatte" to each other on a global social media platform. Apparently, there are misguided Malayalis on Twitter as well
— Ralph Robert (@ralphrobert99) August 17, 2021
Yes there are misguided malayalis who joined with the radical organizations
— Aswin R (@Aswin_R_Iyer) August 17, 2021
but !!!
..
Speculating and creating propoganda when it's not validated, this tweet was not expected from you.
..
I wish you get back with an update, once the validation is made.
The Congress MP subsequently shared an article by Mathrubhumi on the Taliban releasing several Malayalis from prison. One of those released was Nimisha Fathima, who had reportedly left India for Afghanistan in 2016 to join the Islamic State Group.
“I am sure all those who decried my tweet about the possibility of Malayalis in the Taliban will now notice the ones who were released from the government’s prisons today,” Tharoor remarked.
On August 15, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan after overthrowing the government headed by President Ashraf Ghani, who has reportedly fled to neighbouring Tajikistan.
Several countries, including India, have evacuated their citizens from Afghanistan amid a scramble to leave the country hit by political crisis.
