New Delhi, Oct 26 (IANS): Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has said that India is seeing "turbulent times", which can be traced directly to the "whimsical and bizarre" decisions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In a letter written to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, expressing his regret at being unable to attend the launch of his book "The Paradoxical Prime Minister" on Friday evening, Kharge said that Tharoor's book "could not have come at a better time than now".

"It is important that the public learns about the long term structural damage caused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the rural poor, farmers, our economy, our foreign policy and internal security even as he makes pretentious and emotional speeches," he wrote in the letter.

The leader of the Congress party in the Lok Sabha said that it was apt that Tharoor's book will be launched by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, "who worked silently to lift the greatest number of people from poverty, led India on the road of high economic growth, ensured our nation took her rightful place in the world forums and worked for peace within and at the borders".

Kharge said it is not easy to function as a writer, academic or a political leader "under a vindictive and authoritative government that we see today in India".

"You are a writer and a parliamentarian and someone who is currently facing a malicious campaign by the state. Your book and your continuous political fight show that you do not hesitate to speak truth to power," he added.

Kharge suggested that Tharoor's book should be translated into other languages so that it reaches a larger audience.

"The Paradoxical Prime Minister" is Tharoor's 19th book, among the critically acclaimed and bestsellers "The Great Indian Novel", "Riot", "An Era Of Darkness" and his last, "Why I Am A Hindu".