The Congress party is facing internal turmoil after Shashi Tharoor, a prominent MP, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent remarks at a newspaper event, sparking sharp criticism from within his own party. Sandeep Dikshit, a Congress leader, openly rebuked Tharoor, questioning his allegiance and suggesting he was being a "hypocrite" by praising someone who, according to Dikshit, goes against Congress's core policies.
Tharoor's original commendation stemmed from Modi's speech at the Ramnath Goenka Lecture, where the Prime Minister outlined an economic vision and a "cultural call to action," urging the nation to strive for progress. Tharoor highlighted Modi's assertion that India has evolved from an "emerging market" to an "emerging model" for the world, emphasizing its economic resilience. He also noted Modi's commitment to overturning the legacy of a "slave mentality" and his call for a 10-year national mission to restore pride in India's heritage, languages, and knowledge systems. Tharoor expressed a wish that Modi had also acknowledged Ramnath Goenka's use of English to promote Indian nationalism.
Dikshit's response was scathing. He stated that Tharoor seemingly doesn't "know a lot about the country" and questioned why Tharoor remains in the Congress party if he believes the BJP or PM Modi's strategies are superior. "Why are you in Congress? Is it only because you are an MP?" Dikshit asked, implying Tharoor's motives were questionable. He argued that if Tharoor genuinely felt the BJP's policies were better for the country, he should provide an explanation for his continued membership in the Congress. Dikshit didn't stop there, suggesting that Tharoor might lack the courage to speak his mind in front of powerful figures like the Prime Minister. He said that if Tharoor really believes that the BJP or PM Modi's strategies are working better than the party he is in, then he should give an explanation regarding this.
Another Congress leader, Supriya Shrinate, also criticized Tharoor's praise, dismissing Modi's speech as "petty" and criticizing the Prime Minister for constantly targeting the Congress party. She stated she didn't see any reason to appreciate Modi's speech.
The BJP was quick to seize on the internal dispute within the Congress. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of suppressing internal democracy and issuing a "fatwa" against leaders who prioritize national interest. Poonawalla went further, likening the Congress's behavior to the authoritarian tendencies of Indira Gandhi's emergency era. He framed Tharoor's praise as a challenge to party orthodoxy, particularly after the Congress's setback in the Bihar elections. He suggested the party should be called 'Indira Nazi Congress' instead of Indian National Congress.
This isn't the first time Tharoor and Dikshit have found themselves on opposite sides of an internal Congress debate. In 2020, Dikshit openly questioned the party's leadership vacuum, a sentiment Tharoor supported, leading to further friction within the party.
The current controversy highlights the ideological divisions within the Congress and the challenges the party faces in formulating a unified response to the Modi government. It also raises questions about the extent to which individual Congress leaders are willing to publicly deviate from the party line, even when it means praising a political opponent.
