News Brief
'Which Is Your First Loyalty?': Shashi Tharoor Says Nation Comes Before Party Amid Congress Rift
Congress Leader Shashi Tharoor (File Photo)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has reiterated his stance defending the Centre’s handling of the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, asserting that national interest must override party lines, even as his remarks continue to create discomfort within the Congress leadership.
According to a report by NDTV , at an event in Kochi, Tharoor was asked by a high school student about the apparent tensions between him and the party.
Sharing the interaction on X (Formerly Twitter), Tharoor wrote, “While I have been steering clear of such political discussions in public, I felt a student deserved a response.”
"Politics is, unfortunately or otherwise, in any democracy, it's about competition. And as a result, when people like me say that we respect our parties, we have certain values and convictions that keep us in our parties, but we need to cooperate with other parties in the interest of national security -- the question you asked -- sometimes the parties feel that is disloyal to them. And that becomes a big problem," the Congress leader said, referring to his party leaders' remarks targeting him.
“Which is your first loyalty? To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a means of making the nation better," he said.
He added that while parties may have differing paths such as capitalism, socialism, regulation the shared goal should be a stronger, safer India.
Responding to criticism from his own party, Tharoor said, “A lot of people have been very critical of me because of the stand I have taken… But I will stand my ground because I believe this is the right thing for the country.”
He argued for a spirit of unity across political parties, especially in Parliament, which today includes 46 parties.
Tharoor also quoted Jawaharlal Nehru: “Who lives if India dies?”, framing it as a reminder that the country must come before party lines.
"There's a very famous line of Nehru's which I am very fond of quoting. Who lives if India dies? And that's a question to which there is no answer. India must come first. Then only can we all live," he said.
Tharoor’s statements followed his role in articulating India’s official position on Operation Sindoor to both domestic and international media.
He was chosen by the Centre to lead a delegation as part of India’s global outreach post Op Sindoor.
This move—coupled with his vocal praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership—reportedly widened the rift with the Congress brass.
Earlier, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge took a veiled swipe at Tharoor, saying, “For Congress, it is country first, but for some people, it’s Modi first.”
Tharoor responded on X with a cryptic post: “Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one,” alongside a picture of a bird in flight.
