Reported speech

Tharoor could have a point — plucking his words out of context and placing quotation marks around words he did not utter would manifestly be terrible journalism — though his manner was unbecoming. However,the larger point remains that the mainstream media (MSM) Tharoor loves to hate did not create this constant tension between him and his party. He is possibly yet untrained in the intricate ways of political communication,and unaware of the weight of his own words as a minister. As his fondness for Twitter demonstrates,he is all about unmediated conversation — and the direct,natural,and shoot-from-the-hip speaking voice. Meanwhile,the crusty old Congress party is still used to the monotone of the press release,the platitudes of official spokespersons. At a deeper level,a party that has shape-shifted without actually discussing its icons,without having an internal debate over their legacy,is bound to be fearful of freethinking voices,anxious to impose consensus. Tharoor simply needs to decide whether he wants to be the glib crusader for social media or a responsible junior minister in external affairs and a politician headed for bigger things in the party he’s found himself in. Talking down to the media in pompous outrage will,however,get him nowhere.