New Delhi, Dec. 27 – Congress member Shashi Tharoor has sparked fresh debate after saying that cheering for the defeat of a prime minister equates to celebrating India’s own failure. The remark, made to a leading media outlet on Friday, framed India’s foreign policy as belonging to the nation as a whole, not to any single party.
“I’m not sure why people in politics can celebrate the downfall of a prime minister and think it’s something good,” Tharoor explained. “If someone in politics rejoices at the defeat of a Prime Minister, they are celebrating the defeat of India.” He went on to echo Jawaharlal Nehru’s words, adding, “If India dies, who will live?”
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal‑United (JD‑U) welcomed Tharoor’s comments, stressing that India must present a united front on the international stage. BJP MLA Ram Kadam described Tharoor’s statement as “truthful and straightforward” and accused opposition leaders, notably Rahul Gandhi, of eroding national dignity through disrespectful remarks. “Rahul Gandhi should at least listen to his party’s leader, Shashi Tharoor, and understand this concept,” Kadam added.
Neeraj Kumar, spokesperson for JD‑U, reiterated the tradition of bipartisan unity on issues such as foreign policy, national security, and counter-terrorism. He said India has historically avoided public feuds between the government and the opposition on these matters, though internal disputes have started spilling onto the global stage.
San Jaya Upadhyay, another BJP MLA from Maharashtra, also backed Tharoor. “People in the INDI Alliance—especially Congress leaders—keep insulting the prime minister and hoping for his downfall,” he said. “On the global scene, we are all Indians, and we must defend the country’s honor. Shashi Tharoor has done exactly that.”
Inside the Congress, however, criticism flared. Party leaders accused Tharoor of staying silent when the BJP has attacked former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru or made other unfounded claims, urging the MP not to become a “slave” to Prime Minister Modi. Former Rajya Sabha MP V. Hanumantha Rao also called on Tharoor to speak up about past prime ministers who faced legal challenges in the name of service. “There were Prime Ministers who went to jail for serving the nation yet are still insulted. Why doesn’t he speak about that?” Rao asked. He added that Tharoor remains silent when individuals like B.R. Ambedkar or Jawaharlal Nehru are criticized.
Bhakta Charan Das, president of the Congress’s Odisha unit, weighed in, acknowledging Tharoor’s intellect but objecting to the remark. “Shashi Tharoor’s statement is his opinion, but has he understood what the country actually suffers from?” Das said. He urged Tharoor to refrain from making statements that could be seen as supporting Modi and emphasized that his criticism ought to be kept within the party’s framework.
The exchange underscores the growing rift between Congress members over how to respond to criticism of the ruling party and its leader, even as the BJP and JD‑U seek to portray a unified stance on national security and international relations.
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