A fresh disagreement has emerged between Shashi Tharoor and the Congress after the Thiruvananthapuram MP
June 21, 2026: A new political row has surfaced within the Congress after senior leader Shashi Tharoor defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s comments during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit. Tharoor praised Modi for raising concerns about the safety of civilian sailors during conflicts, saying it was important to stress that commercial seafarers should never be treated as combatants. His remarks triggered criticism from within his own party.
Congress leader Pawan Khera took a swipe at Tharoor, suggesting that the MP had imagined diplomatic exchanges that were not reflected in official records. Khera sarcastically remarked that Tharoor appeared capable of hearing statements that were never publicly made. The criticism added to the growing perception of differences between Tharoor and sections of the Congress leadership on issues involving the central government and foreign policy.
Responding strongly, Tharoor shared media reports and references to discussions surrounding the Modi-Trump meeting, insisting that his comments were based on publicly available information. He said his concern was focused on the deaths of Indian seafarers and the broader principle that civilian sailors should never become targets during military conflicts. Tharoor also accused critics of prioritising political attacks over addressing issues affecting Indian citizens, stating that the debate should focus on safeguarding lives rather than scoring political points.