Former UN diplomat and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has rejected an online petition campaign projecting him as UPA's Prime Ministerial candidate in the run-up to general elections 2019.
In his face book post, Tharoor, MP from Thiruvananthapuram constituency, wanted the people behind the campaign to withdraw the same.
"I was both surprised and touched by the Change.Org petition that has been circulating over the last few days suggesting a greater role for me in the Congress party and in national politics in the 2019 elections, and by the response this has received.
I do, however, feel it is time to make it clear that I neither support nor endorse such a campaign," Tharoor said.
Tharoor said he ignored the petition initially, but obliged to respond as it has gained attention in the media.
The MP thanked the creator of the petition and everyone who has signed it so far.
"I have, however, discouraged those of my followers who have asked me about this from doing so, since I do not support such a campaign," Tharoor said in the post.
"I am a member of Parliament for the Congress Party, nothing more and nothing less.
The party has a settled leadership, which is not up for debate," he said adding "When changes occur they do so through an established procedure."
He further said, "I will continue, to the best of my abilities, with my work in Parliament, in Thiruvananthapuram, and in articulating my hopes for India and the ideas that make India -- on those party platforms that are available to me, as well as on the national and international stage and through my writings."
Tharoor thanked everyone for their support and requested that the petition be withdrawn.
"It does not matter if students shout irresponsible
slogans. Or say things you disapprove of. At the same time opposing them and attacking their demonstrations, as we have seen recently in Ramjas College, and arresting them on charges of sedition, as we saw in JNU, actually militates fundamentally against the very spirit of the enquiry that is at the heart of the education," he opined.
Tharoor said the medical education has become the source of scandals and blamed the Medical Council of India (MCI) for not increasing the number of seats to facilitate the education for all deserving students.
"The medical education is a scandal in this country. So many bright and talented students who want to be doctors and want to serve the nation are unable to get into the college due to limited seats available. It is because, unfortunately the MCI and other institutions have suppressed the number of places (seats) available," he opined.
Justifying his term as a Minister of State for HRD in the previous UPA Government, he said he did whatever he could do as a minister.
He said the country should have an educational system that allows more and more people the opportunity to learn, ensure that people of all sections embrace the system and are given an opportunity to study and also ensure that the students are equipped with better skills after they come out of educational institutions.
