‘India Must Come First’: Shashi Tharoor Hits Back at Critics Within Congress Over National Unity Stand
Kochi, July 20 – Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has once again defended his recent cross-party outreach efforts, saying that national interest must always come before political loyalty. Speaking at a student interaction in Kochi, Tharoor responded to internal party backlash over his diplomatic stance and unity-driven remarks following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
Quoting former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Tharoor said: “Who lives if India dies?” He urged all political parties to rise above rivalry when the nation is under threat. “Put your differences aside when the nation is imperilled. India must come first, then only can we all live,” he said while responding to a high school student’s question.
Party Loyalty vs National Duty?
Tharoor, who is a member of the Congress Working Committee, emphasized that political parties are just a means to serve the country, not an end in themselves. “To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a vehicle to make the nation better,” he asserted.
The remarks come in light of criticism Tharoor has faced from his own party leaders. Some Congress members were reportedly unhappy with his role in leading an all-party delegation to countries like the United States, aiming to present a united Indian position on Pakistan’s terror links after the recent militant attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
Kharge’s Indirect Dig at Tharoor
Last month, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge appeared to indirectly criticise Tharoor. Without naming him, Kharge said, “The Congress believes in putting the country first, but for some, it is Modi first and country later.”
This statement was widely interpreted as a veiled reference to Tharoor’s public praise for the Indian armed forces and the government during the international outreach, which some saw as aligning too closely with the ruling BJP’s position.
Tharoor: ‘I Stand My Ground’
Despite the controversy, Shashi Tharoor made it clear that he will not back down. “A lot of people have been very critical of me because of the stand I’ve taken supporting our armed forces and our government… But I will stand my ground because I believe this is the right thing for the country,” he said.
He acknowledged that politics is about competition, where parties may have ideological differences such as capitalism vs socialism or regulation vs free market. But in matters of national security, he believes cooperation is essential.
“When people like me say we respect our parties but need to cooperate with others for the country, parties sometimes feel that’s disloyal. That becomes a big problem,” Tharoor explained.
Refuses to Comment on Congress Leadership Rift
When asked whether his remarks have created friction with the Congress high command, Tharoor declined to engage. “I came to give two speeches,” he told journalists, as reported by PTI.
Kerala CM Poll Buzz: Tharoor Keeps It Light
In a lighter moment, Tharoor was asked about a recent survey that showed him as the most preferred chief ministerial face for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala.
“Someone forwarded it to me and I did a salute as a reply,” he smiled. “I did not have anything more to say. I did not comment and I am not making any comment.”
Final Thoughts – TheTrendingPeople.com
Shashi Tharoor’s remarks bring to light a deeper debate within Indian politics — can national interest ever truly rise above party lines? While some in his party view his approach with suspicion, others applaud his courage to stand for what he believes is right for the country.
As India faces rising global tensions and internal challenges, voices like Tharoor’s may find more support among citizens who believe national unity must trump political ego. Whether the Congress party embraces this stance or distances itself from it remains to be seen — but the conversation has clearly begun.