A rift within the Congress party became more evident on Wednesday as party president Mallikarjun Kharge took a veiled swipe at senior MP Shashi Tharoor, prompting a cryptic social media response from the Thiruvananthapuram MP.
"Shashi Tharoor's English is very good, that's why he has been taken in to the Congress Working Committee (CWC)," Kharge said at a press conference attacking the Modi government. I was in favour of this. His remarks followed a newspaper article in which Tharoor publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, eliciting conflicting responses within the party. "The entire opposition stands united in support of our Army," Kharge continued, taking a further jab. Some say Modi first, country later, but we say nation first. How can we address that?
"Whoever wants to write, can write," Kharge said, evading a direct response when asked if the party planned to take action against Tharoor for his comments. That is not something we want to waste our energy on. Our priorities are maintaining national unity and security. We're going to keep fighting for the country. Such remarks don't need to be taken seriously.
He dismissed speculation that the party was hesitant to act, stating, "We are a party. Why would we be afraid? He is expressing his views. We don't need to keep repeating this. Our priority is saving the nation. If someone has other concerns, you should ask them." Just hours after Kharge’s comments, Tharoor posted a cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter), accompanied by the image of a bird. The caption read, "Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one."
The incident is the most recent in a string of disputes between Tharoor and the Congress leadership. After running against Kharge in the 2022 Congress presidential election, Tharoor has stated that he would like to be used more by the party or perhaps pursue his own interests.
As part of the Modi government's diplomatic outreach after Operation Sindoor, which was initiated in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, Tharoor recently led an all-party parliamentary delegation to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and the United States. According to reports, the Congress did not like some of his statements made during the mission.
Also Read: Tharoor praises PM Modi's outreach under Operation Sindoor
His article in The Hindu acknowledged the strategic significance of India’s response, stating, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi's energy, dynamism, and willingness to engage remains a prime asset for India on the global stage, but deserves greater backing." The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) shared Tharoor’s column on X with the caption, "Lok Sabha MP and former Union Minister Dr. @ShashiTharoor writes—Lessons from Operation Sindoor’s global outreach."
In the article, Tharoor emphasised that while India's prompt military response to the attack was significant, diplomatic outreach was ultimately essential in influencing international opinion and winning support. Additionally, he commended the initiative's designation as Operation Sindoor.
Tharoor's opinions have frequently sparked discussion within the Congress. Randeep Singh Surjewala had accused him of making false claims regarding surgical strikes, while senior party leader Udit Raj had previously called him a “super spokesperson of the BJP”. In the meantime, Tharoor has admitted to having differences with some of the party's leaders. He did, however, make it clear earlier this month that he is deeply committed to the Congress party, its principles, and its members in spite of the disagreements.
Also Read: Tharoor distances himself from BJP switch talk after PM praise
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