For some it's 'Modi first, country later': Kharge's swipe at Tharoor

New Delhi: In a jibe at Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said his party believes in "country first" mantra but for some it is "Modi first and country later".

"I can't read English well. His (Tharoor's) language is very good, that's why we have made him a Congress Working Committee member," Kharge said when asked about Tharoor's article on Operation Sindoor outreach in which he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"But I want to say the people of the opposition together said they are with the Army that is fighting (during Operation Sindoor). We (the Congress) said the country is biggest and we will work together (with the government). We said 'country first, party later'. Some people say 'Modi first, country later'. What can we do in that," he said.

Soon after Kharge's remarks, Tharoor put out a cryptic post on X in which there was an image of a bird with the caption --"Don't ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one..."

pic.twitter.com/dNkwZb721E

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 25, 2025

Tharoor, in an article published in The Hindu on Monday, said Modi's energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remained a "prime asset" for India on the global stage but deserved greater backing.

His remarks were seen as likely to irk his Congress party and widen cracks in his ties with its leadership.

In the article, Tharoor said the diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor was a moment of national resolve and effective communication.

The Prime Minister's Office had shared Tharoor's article on X.

Speaking at an event in Moscow, Tharoor on Tuesday said his article on Operation Sindoor's global outreach was not a sign of his "leaping to join" Prime Minister Modi's party but a statement of national unity, interest and standing up for India.

Also on Tuesday, the Congress distanced itself from party MP Tharoor's remarks in the article.

Asked about Tharoor's comments in the article, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate had said, "It may be his own opinion, it is not the opinion of the Congress party. It is not the Congress' view since we have presented our views with evidence and proof."

Tharoor's praise for the prime minister comes at a time when the Congress has been consistently attacking the Modi government over its foreign policy, alleging that Indian diplomacy is being "shattered" and the country stands "isolated" globally.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, Tharoor has been making comments on the India-Pakistan conflict and the diplomatic outreach that are at variance with the stand of the Congress.

The Congress has been questioning the government over US President Donald Trump's claims of mediating a ceasefire between the two countries.

Tharoor has often drawn criticism from his party and jibes aimed at him by Congress leaders for his stand.