Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has triggered a debate about the duties of the Desi diaspora to their country of origin. Are they de-facto ambassadors for their homeland in their adopted countries? Tharoor certainly thinks so. He was taken aback when a US Congressional delegation told him that they had yet to receive even one phone call from the Indian-American community urging them to use their offices to champion India’s cause with the Trump administration. This alleged sin of omission prompted Tharoor to counsel the diaspora, remarking: “If you care about the relationship with your motherland, then you also have to fight for it, speak for it and press your political representatives to stand up for India."

As chairperson of the powerful Parliamentary Standing Committee for Foreign Affairs, Tharoor knows that every bit of advocacy matters at a time when India is being buffeted by stormy trade winds emanating from Donald Trump’s Oval Office.

Tharoor’s plea isn’t unreasonable. After all, consider........

© News18