Kharge said Tharoor was speaking according to his will, but the Congress did not want to keep harping on it as the party was more concerned about how to save the country.
Published Jun 26, 2025 | 9:46 AM ⚊ Updated Jun 26, 2025 | 9:46 AM
File photos of Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that Shashi Tharoor was in the Congress Working Committee because of his good English. Kharge said for some people, it was Modi first, while the Congress puts the nation first. However, in an apparent reply, Tharoor said he needed nobody’s permission.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Wednesday, June 25, that Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor was in the Congress Working Committee because of his good English.
In an apparent dig at Tharoor, Kharge said for some people, it was Modi first, while the Congress puts the nation first.
“I do not know how to read English. His (Tharoor’s) language is good. That is why he is in the Congress Working Committee. We have been saying from day one that we are with the Indian Army. I said in Gulbarga too that nation comes first, party later. For some people, it is Modi first while for us it is nation first,” Kharge said, while addressing a press conference at Indira Bhawan on Wednesday.
Following Kharge’s remark, Tharoor posted an image of a quote on X that appeared to be a response to the Congress president.
“Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one…,” the image said.
Last week, Tharoor had hinted that he had some differences with the Congress leadership but refused to discuss it in the open.
On Wednesday, Kharge, when asked about Tharoor’s remark, said, “Whoever knows how to write, will write it, we do not want to think about that. Our target is to maintain unity in the country, to ensure the security of the country. We will keep fighting for the country, there is no need to pay attention to anyone’s words.”
Kharge said Tharoor was speaking according to his will, but the Congress did not want to keep harping on it as the party was more concerned about how to save the country.
In an article published in The Hindu on 23 June, Tharoor said Modi’s energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remain a “prime asset” for India on the global stage but deserve greater backing. Tharoor said the diplomatic outreach following “Operation Sindoor” was a moment of national resolve and effective communication.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remain a prime asset for India on the global stage but deserve greater backing,” Tharoor wrote.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
