Jammu, Jun 22: The congenial ties between the Congress Member Parliament (MP) and the chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and the Union Minister of State in PMO Dr Jitendra Singh were on full display in Jammu on Monday.
The affability found a reflection in Tharoor’s side-visit to a private clinic in Jammu’s Auqaf Market- where Dr Jitendra, who is world renowned diabetologist, practiced for 20 years before moving to Delhi as an MP and MoS and also treated the mother of Sunanda Pushkar – Tharoor’s late wife.
Details of the side-visit and its background were shared by the MP-duo.
Tharoor, as head of a significant parliamentary panel, is on a 4-day visit to J&K and Ladakh to review Indo-Pak, Sino-India relations and the functioning of Passport services in J&K.
“In an unusual gesture full of friendship and affection, Hon’ble MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor ji, currently in Jammu as the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, visited Auqaf Complex Gandhi Nagar to have a glimpse of the Chamber which was my Consultation Clinic as Diabetologist & Physician for over two decades, before I moved over to Delhi,” Dr Jitendra shared on social media.
“Incidentally, it is in this very clinic that I used to attend to Shashi Tharoor JI’s mother-in-law and Sunanda JI’s mother, Mrs Das who had Type 2 Diabetes and was under my regular follow up. These days the chamber is occupied by a pharmacy outlet,” Union MoS in PMO posted.
While thanking Tharoor for his visit, he described it as very inspiring yet regretted that he, himself, could not accompany him.
“Thanks Shashi ji, it was very inspiring… I wish I had accompanied you, if only I knew you were going to be in Jammu,” Dr Jitendra stated.
Tharoor, too, was prompt in reply, sharing his happiness following the visit. He acknowledged his (Jitendra’s) absence yet stated that he was celebrated in absentia.
“It was a pleasure Dr Jitendra Singh! I too wish you could have been with us. Normally MPs are always notified whenever a Parliamentary Committee travels to their constituency. I am sorry there seems to have been a communication gap this time. But you were celebrated in absentia!!,” Congress MP posted.
Earlier, Tharoor stated, “While at the Regional Passport Office in Jammu, and after a warm welcome from traditional folk dancers, we popped by to take a look at the pharmacy that served for 20 years as the clinic where the local MP Dr Jitendra Singh practiced before becoming Minister in the @PMO! It’s in a corner of the same building. A welcome reminder that for most MPs, there’s real life before and after politics!”
Following his visit to the clinic, the Congress MP, while speaking to media persons, said, “It has been a good start. This is merely a side visit as the MP from here is a friend of mine and he had told me that this was where he practiced his clinic for 20 years before getting elected. So, he wanted me to see it and I’m very happy to report to him that I’ve seen it.”
Dr Jitendra is an MP from Udhampur-Kathua-Doda LS constituency of Jammu region.
Tharoor, who was in Srinagar before reaching Jammu to lead the parliamentary panel for review visit, also met Dr Karan Singh, another veteran Congressman there in the summer capital.
Both were in Srinagar to participate in Nalanda Dialogue on Saturday evening.
“Delighted to deliver a valedictory speech at the Srinagar Nalanda Dialogue Saturday evening, alongside the greatly admired Dr Karan Singh. The evening concluded with a lively cultural programme that captured something of Kashmir’s unique spirit,” Tharoor had posted on ‘X’ handle.
“I was particularly glad to catch up with Dr Karan Singh Sahib, an old friend, philosopher and guide for much of the last two decades, whose extraordinary knowledge, wisdom, memory, learning, and affection for the Valley make him an incomparable guide to its history. Discussing Hinduism with him is always a special pleasure because of his mastery of the sacred texts and the principles and values the great sages have taught us. It was a special joy to enjoy his hospitality at the fabulously renovated Karan Mahal, where he had grown up,” he wrote.