‘Don’t Ask Permission to Fly’: Shashi Tharoor Reacts to Kharge’s Modi Remark

Just hours after party president Mallikarjun Kharge subtly criticised Congress MP Shashi Tharoor for supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a recent newspaper essay, Tharoor tweeted a mysterious message on social media on Wednesday, sparking new political debate.

The post said, “Don’t ask permission to fly,” and included an illustration of a bird sitting on a branch. You own the wings, and nobody else owns the skies.

Kharge’s Indirect Swipe at Tharoor

The timing of Tharoor’s article raised some worries, especially after Kharge appeared to make a veiled criticism of him without naming names during a press briefing at the Congress office in Delhi.

“Kharge stated that while we claim the nation is priority, for some, it appears to be ‘Modi first and nation second’.” “I am not very proficient in reading English,” he went on. His excellent command of the English language makes him a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC).

Kharge’s comments came after Tharoor’s article in an English publication where the Thiruvananthapuram MP praised Prime Minister Modi’s diplomatic approach, particularly regarding Operation Sindoor, India’s initiative to save its citizens stuck abroad.

No Disciplinary Action Planned, Says Kharge

Kharge rejected any disciplinary action against Tharoor in spite of the scathing comments. Each person has their own opinions. There are thirty special invitees and thirty-four CWC members, each with a unique viewpoint. The president of Congress stressed that his remarks were a reflection of his personal beliefs.

He emphasised that the party is still dedicated to preserving democracy and fostering national unity, saying, “We don’t want to get into all that.” We have the country in mind.  In addition, Kharge implied that anyone who disagreed with Tharoor’s opinions need to address him personally, saying, “If someone is concerned about something else, then you should ask him.”