Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao said Shashi Tharoor’s comments praising PM Modi reflect his personal views and not the party’s official stance.
Congress clarifies that Shashi Tharoor’s comments reflect personal views.
Thiruvananthapuram: Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor recently made headlines by reportedly stating that celebrating the Prime Minister’s defeat is equivalent to celebrating India’s defeat. On Saturday, senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao distanced the party from these remarks, emphasizing that they represent Tharoor’s personal viewpoint and not the official stance of the Congress. Rao highlighted that the party respects the democratic expression of individual leaders, allowing them to voice differing opinions.
Rao, a former Rajya Sabha MP, explained that while Tharoor’s comments may reflect his personal beliefs, the Congress party does not share the same view. He added that the party’s democratic structure encourages leaders to express themselves freely. “We have democracy here, so everyone expresses their views. If another party made such statements, there would be swift action, but we have democracy here. This may be his thinking, but the party does not think that way,” Rao said.
Tharoor’s comments sparked reactions across the political spectrum. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) welcomed his statement, viewing it as a rare acknowledgment from a senior Congress leader. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla praised Tharoor on social media, calling his remarks courageous and expressing hope that the Congress would refrain from taking disciplinary action against him.
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In his statement, Poonawalla directed sharp criticism at Congress Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of placing family interests above national interest. He claimed that Tharoor’s remarks were a mirror to Rahul Gandhi’s alleged propaganda against India, highlighting what Poonawalla described as the opposition leader’s focus on personal and family priorities over national concerns. He also criticized Rahul Gandhi’s position on issues like Operation Sindoor and alleged surrender narratives within Congress.
Poonawalla further emphasized that foreign policy and national interest should not belong to any single political party but to the country as a whole. He praised Tharoor for putting national interest above party allegiance and warned that Congress might attempt disciplinary measures against him, while asserting that such actions would reflect intolerance for dissenting opinions. The BJP viewed the incident as evidence of internal contradictions within Congress regarding national priorities versus party or family interests.
The controversy surrounding Tharoor’s comments has triggered wider debate among political analysts and the public, highlighting internal differences within Congress and the varying perspectives of senior leaders. While Rao’s statement underscores the party’s democratic structure, the BJP’s response has turned the incident into a political talking point, raising questions about party discipline, freedom of expression, and prioritization of national interests over partisan politics.
