Shashi Tharoor and Son Ishaan Clash Over ‘Ban Boomers on WhatsApp’

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and his son Ishaan Tharoor engaged in a public exchange on X after Ishaan suggested that India should first ban “boomers” from WhatsApp. Ishaan’s comment was a response to Zoho co‑founder Sridhar Vembu’s call to restrict young children’s use of social media. Shashi retorted that, given India’s demographic patterns, virtually every generation could be called a boomer, turning the joke back on his son.

The ban‑boomers banter captured online attention and was framed within the wider youth‑led protests by the Cockroach Janta Party, which forced the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In a video, Shashi praised the Gen‑Z movement for prompting the minister’s exit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi later announced a high‑powered task force headed by Infosys co‑founder Nandan Nilekani to address the underlying issues.