Kharge to Tharoor: Join Protests Instead of Just Writing English Newspaper Articles

A light-hearted yet politically significant exchange took place between Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Thiruvananthapuram Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor during the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting held on Tuesday. The interaction, which occurred in the presence of the party's top brass, brought a wave of laughter to the meeting room as Kharge responded to a suggestion made by Tharoor regarding the party's upcoming activities. The dialogue highlighted the internal dynamics of the party and the leadership's emphasis on grassroots involvement.

Tharoor's Suggestion for Gandhi Jayanti

During the deliberations of the CWC, Shashi Tharoor proposed that the Congress party should organize a massive protest demonstration on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. Tharoor argued that such an initiative is necessary to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from monopolizing the occasion. He expressed concern that if the Congress doesn't take a proactive stance, the BJP might use the day to further its own image and narrative, while tharoor's suggestion was aimed at ensuring that the Congress remains at the forefront of celebrating and defending the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi.

Kharge's Witty Response and Jibe

Upon hearing the suggestion, Mallikarjun Kharge turned towards Tharoor and delivered a witty remark that caught everyone's attention. Kharge asked Tharoor if he would actually participate in the dharna or if his involvement would be limited to digital and print platforms. " He further questioned whether Tharoor would be physically present at the protest or if he would only be seen on X (formerly Twitter) and in the columns of English dailies. This remark led to widespread laughter among the leaders present in the meeting, including senior members of the working committee.

Details of the CWC Meeting

The Congress Working Committee meeting lasted for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes. During this time, the party leadership discussed various aspects of its future action plan and organizational strategy. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to praising Rahul Gandhi for his recent efforts and leadership. While the primary objective was to chart a course for the party's future, the atmosphere was punctuated by moments of humor and light-hearted banter, such as the exchange between Kharge and Tharoor.

A History of Similar Remarks

This isn't the first time Mallikarjun Kharge has taken a swipe at Shashi Tharoor's intellectual and media-centric approach. In a previous CWC meeting, Kharge had made a veiled reference to leaders who are often seen in suits and write articles for English newspapers, while this was in the context of an incident in Haridwar where Kharge felt he had been insulted. Without naming Tharoor directly at that time, Kharge had remarked that "good-looking leaders who are popular on TV and write articles in newspapers" should have raised the issue of purification with the same spirit and intensity as other party matters.

Past Disagreements and Context

The relationship between the two leaders has seen instances of public disagreement in the past. Last year, Shashi Tharoor wrote an article praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which reportedly caused some friction within the Congress party. At that time, Mallikarjun Kharge had also taken a dig at Tharoor regarding his stance. The recent interaction at the CWC meeting serves as a reminder of Kharge's consistent message to the party's intellectual wing: that ground-level participation and physical presence in party protests are as vital as intellectual contributions and media presence.