Allahabad: In a pointed dig at senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday reiterated that the party stands firmly by the principle of “country first”, while indirectly criticising those who, in his words, place “Modi first and country later.”

Kharge’s remarks came during a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters in response to a question regarding Tharoor’s recent article on ‘Operation Sindoor’, in which the parliamentarian praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the West Asia crisis.

“I can’t read English well. His (Tharoor’s) language is very good. That’s why we have made him a member of the Congress Working Committee,” Kharge said in a seemingly sarcastic tone. “For our party, the country comes first. But for some others, Modi comes first and the country later.”

Tharoor, without naming Kharge, posted a cryptic message on X (formerly Twitter) in response to the criticism. Sharing an image of a bird in flight, he captioned it: “Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to none.”

The controversy erupted after Tharoor’s article, published earlier this week, drew attention for commending PM Modi’s leadership during the recent Operation Sindoor — India’s evacuation effort in the Middle East. While praising the operation as a symbol of India’s global standing, Tharoor also stressed the importance of unity and national interest, stating that his comments were meant as a “statement of national unity” rather than political endorsement.

Amid growing scrutiny, Tharoor issued a clarification on Tuesday, stating that his praise was not a signal of any shift in allegiance. “My article should not be interpreted as me leaping to join the BJP,” he said, reaffirming his commitment to the Congress party.

Despite his clarification, the Congress party has distanced itself from Tharoor’s comments. A party spokesperson criticised the NDA government’s foreign policy as having “fallen flat,” and asserted that praise for isolated actions should not overshadow broader systemic failures.

The article was notably shared by PM Modi himself on social media, further fueling speculation over the implications of Tharoor’s remarks and his subsequent meeting with the Prime Minister on June 11.

With internal tensions surfacing, the Congress leadership now faces the challenge of maintaining unity while managing diverse voices within its ranks.