Shashi Tharoor extolls installation of Rajaji’s statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday (February 23, 2026) lauded the installation of Rajaji’s statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In a post on X, Mr. Tharoor said he is truly pleased to see Rajaji honoured by a statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan. “I’m truly pleased to see Rajaji honoured by a statue at Rashtrapati Bhavan. He was its first Indian occupant as the only Indian Governor-General of India, before we became a Republic and he yielded his seat to the new President,” his post said.

President Droupadi Murmu unveiled a bust of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday (February 23, 2026), hailing it as a step towards “shedding the vestiges of colonial mindset”.

The Congress leader, responding to a tweet from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who called this initiative a commendable effort, further said he has admired Rajaji’s convictions and he was a strong supporter of his Swatantra Party.

Mr. Tharoor said he always looked up to Rajaji’s set of values, principles which were liberal economics and support for free enterprise, and combined with social justice, and a strong faith in the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the constitution. “I have long admired his convictions and was a strong supporter of his Swatantra Party in my student days. His set of values and principles — liberal economics and support for free enterprise, combined with social justice; strong anchoring in Indian civilization and religious faith but without a shred of communal bigotry; and a staunch faith in the rights & freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, including keeping the government out of our kitchens, bedrooms and libraries — remain mine to this day. It is sad that there are so few left to follow him today,” his post read.

The bust of Rajaji, the first and only Indian Governor-General of independent India, has been installed at the Grand Open Staircase near Ashok Mandap, replacing that of Edwin Lutyens, a British architect.