New Delhi: Hours after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took a veiled yet scathing dig at senior party leader Shashi Tharoor over his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Thiruvananthapuram MP posted a cryptic message on social media that look more like a pointed reply to the Congress high command.
“Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one,” Tharoor wrote on X (formerly Twitter), accompanying the message with a photograph of a soaring bird.
The post came shortly after Kharge, addressing a press conference, said, “We say the country comes first, but some people feel ‘Modi first, country later’. What can we do?” The Congress chief, while denying any disciplinary action against Tharoor, added with a hint of sarcasm, “His English is very good. That’s why he’s in the Working Committee.”
Tharoor’s praise for PM Modi
The latest flashpoint came over Tharoor’s recent article in a leading publication, where he praised Prime Minister Modi’s “energy, dynamism and willingness to engage” on the global stage following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s diplomatic push under Operation Sindoor. Calling Modi a “prime asset for India”, Tharoor’s words sparked sharp reactions from party colleagues and triggered speculation about his ideological alignment.
Kharge’s remarks are being seen as the strongest public rebuke yet from the Congress leadership. The Congress had earlier distanced itself from Tharoor’s views, with party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate emphasising that his words did not reflect the official position.
Responding to the political storm, Tharoor clarified at an event that his article should not be misinterpreted as an endorsement of the BJP. “It is not a sign of my leaping to join the Prime Minister’s party,” he said. “It is a statement of national unity, interest, and standing up for India.”
Tensions simmering within Congress
Despite the clarification, tensions within the party appear to be simmering. Tharoor’s consistent praise for Modi’s international leadership contrasts with the Congress’s sharper line of criticism on foreign policy matters, including its recent stance questioning the transparency around Operation Sindoor and the role of the United States in brokering the ceasefire.
The rift has also reignited chatter about Tharoor’s future in the party, though the MP has repeatedly dismissed suggestions of switching sides, asserting his commitment to India above party lines.
Tharoor, a former diplomat, was chosen to lead an all-party delegation for India’s international outreach after the Pahalgam attack.
