Tharoor Praises Constitution’s Endurance, Credits Modi’s Public Reverence Even as Congress Tensions Surface
Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor on Saturday underlined the enduring strength of the Indian Constitution, remarking that even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly described it as “sacrosanct.”
Tharoor recalled Modi’s 2016 address to the United States Congress, where the Prime Minister famously referred to the Constitution as his “holy book.”
Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode, Tharoor reflected on the remarkable resilience of the Constitution, noting that it has “stood the test of time” even amid profound political shifts.
He observed that India witnessed the rise to power of a party whose ideological roots, particularly in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, had once openly rejected the Constitution—yet the document itself remained intact and central to the republic.
Tharoor recalled that when the Bharatiya Janata Party assumed power, there was widespread speculation and public anxiety that the Constitution might be scrapped or rewritten.
He referred to reports at the time suggesting that RSS ideologue K N Govindacharya was drafting an alternative constitutional framework. Despite such fears, Tharoor said, the constitutional order endured, reaffirming its foundational strength.
On National Security and Operation Sindoor
During his address, Tharoor also touched upon his stance on Operation Sindoor, asserting that he had taken a firm and unapologetic position on the issue.
Tharoor said he was surprised when the Modi government went on to adopt precisely the course of action he had publicly advocated.
Party Friction and Call for Internal Dialogue
Tharoor’s remarks come against the backdrop of persistent speculation about his strained relationship with sections of the Congress leadership, particularly in Kerala, and allegations that he has been repeatedly sidelined by state party leaders.
In an interview with Press Trust of India on the same day, Tharoor acknowledged that he has certain “issues” within the party but stressed that these should be addressed internally rather than debated in the media.
He firmly maintained that he has never deviated from the Congress party’s official positions in Parliament.
“All I can say is that there are issues which I need to take up with my own party leadership, and not in a public forum,” Tharoor said.
He added that he intended to travel to Delhi for the parliamentary session, where he hoped to have a candid and constructive discussion with the leadership to present his concerns and understand their perspective.
Reflecting on his long association with the party, Tharoor noted, “I have been in the Congress for the past 17 years.
Whatever has gone wrong needs to be addressed, and it will be addressed in an appropriate forum.”
Signals of Discontent Ahead of Kerala Polls
The sense of unease deepened ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections when the All India Congress Committee held a key strategy meeting in Delhi with senior state leaders—an event Tharoor did not attend.
According to reports, Tharoor felt “deeply insulted” by developments at the party’s grand mahapanchayat in Kochi earlier this week.
During the event, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi reportedly named several leaders seated on the dais at the start of his speech, but did not mention Tharoor.
Further fuelling resentment, Tharoor was allegedly asked to conclude his address before Gandhi arrived on stage, only to later see at least six other leaders—some of whom are not members of the Congress Working Committee—speak after him in Gandhi’s presence.
Earlier Remarks on Dynasty Politics
The backdrop to these developments includes Tharoor’s November 2024 article on dynasty politics, in which he wrote that the Nehru-Gandhi family had “cemented the idea that political leadership can be a birthright,” a comment that sparked internal debate within the party.
As Congress prepares for crucial electoral battles, Tharoor’s remarks—balancing constitutional praise, policy positions, and pointed reflections on party culture—highlight both his independent voice and the growing undercurrents within India’s oldest political party.
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