Full text: Shashi Tharoor's statement after Congress sacks him as party spokesperson

New Delhi: Congress's Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi has paid a heavy price for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tharoor was removed as Congress spokesperson on Monday following a recommendation by the party's disciplinary committee based on demand by the Kerala unit.

The full text of Shashi Tharoor press release:

I have seen the press release issued by the AICC and, as a loyal worker of the Congress Party, accept the decision of the Party President to relieve me of my responsibilities as a Spokesman.

I am in politics to serve the people of India, and my constituency, Thiruvananthapuram, through my service to the Congress Party. This I have always done with utmost sincerity and commitment and I will continue to do so. Whatever responsibilities the Party has entrusted to me I have fulfilled without reservation, and I fully recognize it is the prerogative of the Party to alter these responsibilities.

While I have not yet seen the KPCC complaint referred to, and while I would have welcomed an opportunity to respond to it and draw the attention of the AICC leadership to the full range of my statements and writings on contemporary political issues, I am now treating this matter as closed and have no further comment to make.