'Free Bird Must Watch Skies...': Congress MP's Dig At Shashi Tharoor Over Cryptic Post

Last Updated:June 26, 2025, 15:07 IST

Congress MP Manickam Tagore criticized Shashi Tharoor's cryptic post. Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge emphasized "country first" over "Modi first" after Tharoor praised Modi.

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. (Photo: PMO file)

Congress Lok Sabha MP Manickam Tagore on Thursday took a swipe at party colleague Shashi Tharoor after the latter posted a cryptic comment on social media, widening cracks in his ties with the party leadership.

In a jibe at Tharoor, Congress party chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday said his party believes in the “country first" mantra, but for some, it is “Modi first and country later". 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…"

Reacting to Tharoor’s post, Tagore said birds don’t need clearance to rise but in today even a free bird must watch the skies—hawks, vultures, and ‘eagles’ are always hunting.

“Don’t ask permission to fly. Birds don’t need clearance to rise… But in today, 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. 🦅🕊️ #DemocracyInDanger #BirdsOfPrey," the Lok Sabha MP from Tamil Nadu’s Virudhnagar posted on X with an image of hawks, vultures, and eagles.

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. 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.

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.

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

On another question related to Tharoor’s comments, Kharge said, “Whoever knows how to write, will write it, we do not want to think about that. Our target is to maintain unity in the country, to ensure the security of the country. We will keep fighting for the country, there is no need to pay attention to anyone’s words." Pressed further on the Thiruvananthapuram MP’s comments, Kharge said Tharoor is speaking according to his will but “we do not want to keep harping on it as we are more concerned about how to save the country".

News politics 'Free Bird Must Watch Skies...': Congress MP's Dig At Shashi Tharoor Over Cryptic Post