Tharoor denies influencing MEA book purchases

A-49, DEL-021203, DECEMBER 02, 2009: New Delhi: Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor during a function to commemorate 'International day of solidarity with the Palestinian people', in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI Photo by Subhav Shukla

Reacting to the latest controversy, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has denied influencing the External Affairs Ministry’s recent purchase of three books authored by him. In messages on the social networking site Twitter, Mr. Tharoor said the ploy “bash ST [Shashi Tharoor] to create a controversy was contemptible.”

Society’s decision

According to the Ministry, it decided to purchase three of Mr. Tharoor’s books after he became Minister.

In this case, a book selection society headed by a Secretary-rank officer identified 140 books on a wide variety of subjects for purchase in July this year.

The decision to purchase the books was taken entirely by the society and neither the Minister nor his office was involved in the process, MEA sources said.

In his tweet, the Minister also made a similar assertion. “Just for the record, my staff and I have nothing to do with the MEA book purchases and I was completely unaware of mine being amongst those bought.”