Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has issued a sharp response to senior party leader Shashi Tharoor’s recent praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, “For us, the country comes first, but for some people, it’s Modi first.” His remarks come after Tharoor described Modi’s global image as an “asset” to India in a newspaper article following Operation Sindoor. The Congress leadership has since distanced itself from Tharoor’s statements, intensifying tensions within the party.

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— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 25, 2025

Tharoor, in his article published in The Hindu, lauded the Prime Minister’s dynamism and international appeal, which triggered criticism from fellow party members. He later clarified at an event in Moscow that his comments were not an attempt to support the BJP, but rather a call for national unity. Despite his explanation, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate asserted that Tharoor's views were personal and not reflective of the party's stance, especially at a time when the Congress is strongly opposing the government’s handling of the Pahalgam terror attack and its aftermath.

Kharge, while speaking to the media, acknowledged Tharoor’s command of the English language, remarking that “his language is very good, that’s why we made him a Congress Working Committee member.” However, he reiterated that in moments of national crisis, such as the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 civilians, the focus should remain on standing with the nation and the armed forces. Without naming Tharoor directly, he took a veiled dig, adding, “Some people think of Modi first, country later, what can we do?” The incident has further highlighted internal differences in Congress over public messaging and political alignment.