'Fatwa Issued…': Congress Slams, BJP Backs Shashi Tharoor Over PM Modi Praise

Tharoor’s praise came just days after the NDA’s sweeping victory in the Bihar assembly elections, where the Congress suffered significant losses. In a detailed post on X, Tharoor lauded Modi’s speech, delivered despite battling a severe cough and cold, highlighting the PM’s focus on overturning Thomas Macaulay’s 200-year legacy of “slave mentality” and his call for a 10-year mission to restore pride in India’s heritage, languages, and knowledge systems.

“PM Modi said he’d been accused of being in ‘election mode’ all the time, but he was really in ‘emotional mode’ to redress the problems of the people,” Tharoor wrote.

Congress Reaction

Congress leaders were quick to criticise Tharoor’s remarks. Supriya Shrinate, a senior Congress spokesperson, said she found nothing praiseworthy in the Prime Minister’s speech, calling it “petty” and claiming she did not understand what Tharoor appreciated.

BJP Response

The BJP, however, came down heavily on the Congress. Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed that Congress lacks internal democracy and issues a “fatwa” against members who put national interest above party or familial interests.

“If somebody praises the Prime Minister’s speech, which is about larger issues, then a ‘fatwa’ is issued against that person by the Congress, which talks about democracy in the entire country, but there is no democracy within their party,” Poonawalla said.

The BJP also controversially described the Congress as ‘Indira Nazi Congress’, alleging it reflects Indira Gandhi’s emergency mindset and dictatorial behavior.

Political Implications

Tharoor’s remarks and the subsequent exchanges highlight the growing intra-party tensions in Congress and the BJP’s effort to frame itself as supportive of leaders acknowledging national priorities. Political analysts say the controversy underscores how praise for political rivals remains a flashpoint in India’s current partisan landscape.