Course Correction Is Necessary For Dr. Sashi Tharoor MP – OpEd
Former United Nations Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information, Dr. Shasi Tharoor, is the present Indian National Congress (INC) Party MP representing Trivandrum parliamentary constituency for the fourth consecutive time. The INC offered him this opportunity to contest in the official symbol of the party.
Now, whilst the country is facing ideological clashes between the Congress Party and BJP, the senior Dr Tharoor should understand prudent speech and statements. However, he frequently undermines the party line.
Presently, his writings and ‘X’ messages demonstrate that he deliberately expresses his divergent views on social media against the INC Party stance. First, he provoked the INC Party by not conveying its message after his name was included in the post-Sindoor ‘special delegation’ set by the Indian Government. Second, his article in ‘The Hindu’ dated June 23, 2025 gave all praise to Prime Minister Modi. Again, in an article on project-syndicate.org dated July 8, 2025 which was republished in Deepika Malayalam on July 10, 2025, he slammed the INC’s past leaders Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi’s role during the emergency. And third, recently, after attending prime minister’s Ramnath Goenka Lecture at the invitation of the Indian Express, his recent message on ‘X’ intentionally included the needless sentence: “Glad to have been in the audience despite battling a bad cold and cough!” What is he trying to convey and to whom? To the Congress or the BJP? If he would like to become a minister in Modi’s government, then he can ask the prime minister straight away. Ostensibly, his desire in these statements is to embarrass the INC and play sycophant to the ruling elite.
On national interest, especially terrorism or national security matters, Dr Tharoor need not preach to the INC Party. The INC has a long history of taking a strong stance against terrorism; for the sake of the country’s unity, the party has lost its leaders.
Let us see in the following sections how his drama has unfolded in the public domain.
Post – ‘Operation Sindoor,’ indicating the ‘special delegation’ to various world capitals, he opined that India successfully stood together upon the world stage against Pakistan on the issue of terrorism. It is very silly. For India has always stood unitedly upon the world stage in similar historical situations. After the Mumbai terror attack, for example, India stood united against Pakistan terror network, with the whole world’s solidarity. Dr. Tharoor has selective amnesia. His statement on ‘Operation Sindoor’s special delegation’ is not a sign of ‘national unity, interest and standing up for India,’ but his thoughtful tilt and demonstration as a BJP’s spokesperson, for unknown reasons.
What does Dr. Tharoor opine about BJP projecting ‘Modi first, country later’? Would he agree? In the last 11 years Modi has made 151 foreign trips and visited 72 countries. However, none of these countries – including the U.S. and Russia – have shown any solidarity towards India. Will Tharoor write about this on social media? When our soldiers fought with the Chinese at Galwan in 2020 at the Line of Actual Control, Modi gave clean chit to China. Does Tharoor agree with this? The Global South voice is completely silenced in the Israel-Iran conflict. During the Mumbai terror attack, did the BJP utter the same line as Dr Tharoor’s stance today? Presently, India’s foreign policy is conducted solely to safeguard Modi’s image. Does Tharoor have anything to say about this?
Recently, in an article Tharoor has reminding us about the 50 years since the ‘1975 emergency’ for the Indian public. Why doesn’t he mention the demonization which killed 100 plus innocent people and three draconian farm laws which killed 700 plus farmers? Presently, the media and important government institutions are under the control of ruling authority. Will he write about the present undeclared emergency in India?
Controversy is Dr Tharoor’s other name. Resting in its shadow are his habits. Beginning with the Kochi IPL team’s franchise issue, his cattle-class tweet, the death of his third wife and his interlocutor comment, these have caused significant past controversy. On several previous occasions, his attitude has placed the party in an awkward position. However, he has now untactfully exposed his ingratitude to his own party.
As a senior person, Dr. Tharoor’s approach is unpleasant. Dr Tharoor failed to inform the INC Party that he was joining the special delegation. Responding to the INC’s leadership with funny pictures on ‘X’ reflects his regressive mindset. He cryptically posted a cartoon on ‘X’ with the caption: “Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one…” Responding to Dr Tharoor, INC Party’s parliamentarian Shri. Manickam Thagore cautiously warned his colleague on ‘X’: “don’t ask permission to fly. Birds don’t need clearance to rise…But in today’s India, even a free bird must watch the skies – hawks, vultures, and eagles are always hunting. Freedom isn’t free, especially when the predators wear patriotism as feathers.” Excellent response.
Contrarily, he shows diplomatic gratitude towards the ruling party. This inflames the minds of Congress cadres against him. If he would like to continue to be the ambassador of the BJP, let him first resign from the present position as the member of parliament, then he can sing a song to merry the prime minister. Further, he could dance with liberty to the tune of the BJP high command.
The demeanor of Dr Tharoor MP in acting against the will of the party is disrespectful, obnoxious and unacceptable. I think his present defiance is a good lesson for the INC Party. The party has to learn from this case and realize why such persons should not be allowed to contest elections immediately upon landing in India post-retirement.
It is all right that he has held a respectful position, that he is now an author of several books and that he possesses certain skills. However, when he tries to jump from a moving train, it is dangerous. It will hurt him. Therefore, Dr Tharoor needs self-realization and course correction.
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