Shashi Tharoor defends Narendra Modi, justifies PM/CM removal bill on graft charges

Opposition alleges the 30-day custody removal rule could target non-BJP leaders through motivated arrests, undermining federalism and due process, while the government calls it an accountability measure. However, Senior Congress party leader and MP Shashi Tharoor has taken a different and logical view on this matter.

New Delhi: Senior Congress party leader and MP Shashi Tharoor has once again created a political stir by giving an opinion different from the official line of his own party. This matter is related to the Constitution Amendment Bill (130th Amendment) 2025, which provides that if the Prime Minister, Chief Minister or any minister remains in jail for 30 consecutive days, then he will have to resign from his post on the 31st day or he will be removed.

While the entire opposition, including the Congress, is strongly opposing this bill and calling it anti-democracy and a weapon of misuse of power, Shashi Tharoor has taken a different and logical view on this matter. Tharoor believes that this is a matter of common sense and if a person is in jail for 30 days, then it is not appropriate for him to remain a minister.

He suggested that this bill should be sent to the Parliamentary Select Committee so that it can be discussed openly and in detail. "If you spend 30 days in jail, can you continue to be a minister? This is a matter of common sense... I don't see anything wrong in this," says Shashi Tharoor.

This is not the first time that Tharoor has expressed an opinion different from the party line. In 2021, he was part of the G-23 group that questioned the internal democracy and leadership style within the party.

Recently, he again made headlines by praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'dynamism' and opposing the party's boycott during a parliamentary discussion on the Indian astronaut. However, he has clarified that he will not leave the Congress and join the BJP, but he expresses his views independently.

Apart from this, Tharoor has also criticized the central government's decision to ban online money gaming. He argues that the ban will make this industry run illegally and mafias will benefit. He advises that the government should legalize it and bring it under the purview of regulation and taxation, which will increase government revenue and that money can be used for social welfare work.

He said that many countries have successfully adopted this model. However, it's not the first time he has taken a different stand from his party lines. He had extensively praised PM Narendra Modi for his foreign policy.

Not only this, but he also led the delegation chosen by the government of India to propagate India's stand against terrorism globally after India successfully conducted Operation Sindoor to avenge the death of the innocent tourists in Phalagm by terrorists.