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The Print
20-07-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Nation first, parties are means to make country better: Shashi Tharoor
He also said that he will stand his ground regarding supporting the nation's armed forces and the government as he believes 'this is the right thing for the country'. Tharoor, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said that the objective of a party is to create a better India and parties have the right to disagree on the best way to do that. Kochi, Jul 19 (PTI) Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said that nation comes first and parties are the means of making the country better. 'Which is your first loyalty? To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a means of making the nation better. So, to my mind, whichever party you belong to, the objective of the party is to create a better India in its own way. 'Now, parties have every right to disagree about the best way of doing that.. As you know, a lot of people have been very critical of me because of the stand I have taken, supporting our armed forces and our government, and what happened recently in our country and our borders,' he said, while speaking at a private event here on 'Peace, Harmony and National Development'. 'But I will stand my ground, because I believe this is the right thing for the country,' the Congress MP added. During his speech, he further said that politics is unfortunately or otherwise, in any democracy, about competition. 'As a result, when people like me say we respect our parties, we have certain values and convictions that keep us in our parties, but we need to cooperate with other parties in the interests of national security, sometimes the parties feel that its disloyal to them and that becomes a big problem,' he said. Later, on the sidelines of the event, he told reporters that 'nation first was always my philosophy'. He said that he came back to India only to serve the nation in whatever he can, through and outside politics. 'I have tried to do that,' he said. On being asked whether he has any problems with the Congress high command, he said he was not here to discuss any politics or problems. 'I came to give two speeches. Both the speeches were on themes I hope the public will respect and value. First one was about development, the role of businesses and peace and harmony. 'The second was mainly on the theme of communal harmony and trying, at the same time, to live together in order for all of us to grow and develop. Inclusive development has been my theme throughout my 16 years in politics and I believe in inclusiveness and in development. I also believe in national security and national interest,' he said. Regarding the recent survey controversy, Tharoor said he frankly does not know who carries out such surveys. 'Someone forwarded it to me and I did a salute as a reply. I did not have anything more to say and I made no comment and I am not making any comment,' he said. He was replying to a reporter's query regarding a survey which suggested he is the Congress-led UDF's most preferred choice for chief minister. PTI HMP HMP KH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Mint
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Shashi Tharoor's BIG remark amid rumoured rift with Congress: ‘National security will always…'
Amid rumours of a rift with the Congress party, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said that nation comes first and parties are the means of making the country better. 'Which is your first loyalty? To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a means of making the nation better. So, to my mind, whichever party you belong to, the objective of the party is to create a better India in its own way,' Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said while speaking at a private event in Kochi on 'Peace, Harmony and National Development'. Tharoor also said that he will stand his ground regarding supporting the nation's armed forces and the government as he believes 'this is the right thing for the country'. According to a PTI report, Tharoor said that politics is unfortunately or otherwise, in any democracy, about competition. "As a result, when people like me say we respect our parties, we have certain values and convictions that keep us in our parties, but we need to cooperate with other parties in the interests of national security, sometimes the parties feel that its disloyal to them and that becomes a big problem," he said. Later, on the sidelines of the event, he told reporters that "nation first was always my philosophy". He said that he came back to India only to serve the nation in whatever he can, through and outside politics. "I have tried to do that," he said. Remaining tight lipped when asked whether he has any problems with the Congress high command, he said he was not here to discuss any politics or problems. Tharoor stressed that his commitment is towards a better and safe India whose borders are secure. "Some of us may say, let's say, more capitalism. Some may say more socialism. Some may be in favour of certain kinds of regulatory controls. Some may be against too much regulation. So you have different points of view. That's fine. But ultimately, we must all be committed to a better India, a safer India, an India whose borders are protected, whose territory is safe, whose people's well-being can be nurtured. And that is my commitment", he said. The Congress MP further urged all the political parties to stay united when the nation is "imperiled". He quoted former India PM Jawaharlal Nehru famous quote, "Who lives if India dies? And that's a question to which there is no answer. India must come first, and then only can we all live." "I'm saying it to all parties. Put your differences aside when the nation is imperiled. Because if there is no India, there's a very famous line of Nehru's, which I am very fond of quoting. Who lives if India dies? And that's a question to which there is no answer. India must come first, and then only can we all live," he said.
Hans India
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Shashi Tharoor Defends Nation-First Approach Despite Party Loyalty Concerns
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has reinforced his commitment to placing national interests above party considerations, acknowledging that this stance sometimes creates friction with party leadership who may perceive such positions as disloyal. Addressing an audience in Kochi at a discussion on "Peace, Harmony and National Development" on Saturday, the Thiruvananthapuram representative articulated his philosophy that political parties should serve as instruments for national betterment rather than ends in themselves. He emphasized that regardless of party affiliation, the ultimate goal should be creating a stronger India, even if different parties disagree on methodology. Tharoor directly confronted recent criticism he has received for backing the Modi government's handling of Operation Sindoor and other defense-related initiatives. He defended his position by stating that supporting the nation's armed forces and government during critical security matters represents the correct course of action, regardless of political consequences. When questioned by a student about his relationship with Congress leadership, Tharoor explained the delicate balance he maintains between party loyalty and national duty. He noted that while he respects his party and shares its fundamental values, he believes cooperation with other parties becomes necessary when national security is at stake, though such collaboration sometimes appears disloyal to party colleagues. The veteran politician acknowledged that democratic politics inherently involves competition between parties, but argued that this competitive spirit should not prevent collaborative efforts during crucial moments. He described inclusive development as his consistent theme throughout his sixteen-year political career, alongside commitments to national security and broader national interests. Speaking to reporters later, Tharoor reiterated that his "nation first" philosophy has guided his entire political journey since returning to India specifically to serve the country in various capacities. He emphasized that his service extends beyond conventional political boundaries. The Congress leader also addressed growing speculation about internal party tensions, particularly following his appointment to head an all-party delegation regarding Operation Sindoor. While typically avoiding public discussion of such political matters, he felt obligated to respond to the student's inquiry and subsequently shared the interaction on social media platform X. Tharoor invoked former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's famous question "Who lives if India dies?" to underscore his belief that political actors must set aside partisan differences when national interests are threatened. This perspective has become increasingly relevant as he faces scrutiny for positions that some within his party view as overly accommodating toward the current government. Recent controversy surrounding Tharoor intensified after he published an article praising Prime Minister Modi's international diplomatic approach, specifically commending his "energy" and "dynamism" in global affairs. The Prime Minister's Office's decision to share this article further fueled speculation about Tharoor's standing within the Congress hierarchy and his relationship with party leadership. Throughout his remarks, Tharoor maintained that political parties across the spectrum should demonstrate willingness to collaborate during moments of national significance, suggesting that such cooperation represents true patriotism rather than political betrayal. His comments reflect ongoing tensions within opposition ranks about how to balance criticism of the ruling party with support for national initiatives, particularly those involving security and defense matters. The controversy highlights broader questions about the role of individual conscience versus party discipline in contemporary Indian politics, with Tharoor positioning himself as someone willing to face internal criticism for what he perceives as principled stances on national issues.
India Today
20-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Sometimes parties feel you're being disloyal: Shashi Tharoor's nation first message
Amid ongoing speculation about a rift with the Congress leadership, senior party leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday asserted that political parties must cooperate with each other in the interest of national security. Speaking at an event in Kochi on 'Peace, Harmony and National Development', Tharoor said that the nation must come first, and parties are merely vehicles to build a better is your first loyalty? To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a means of making the nation better. So, to my mind, whichever party you belong to, the objective of the party is to create a better India in its own way. Now, parties have every right to disagree about the best way of doing that," he said. The Congress MP also addressed the recent criticism he has faced for supporting the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government over its handling of Operation Sindoor and matters related to national defence. "A lot of people have been very critical of me because of the stand I have taken, supporting our armed forces and our government, and what happened recently in our country and our borders. But I will stand my ground, because I believe this is the right thing for the country," he to a student's question about his relationship with the Congress leadership, Tharoor said, "When people like me say that we respect our parties, we have certain values and convictions that keep us in our parties, but we need to cooperate with other parties in the interest of national security. Sometimes the parties feel that is disloyal to them. That becomes a big problem."He added that politics, in any democracy, is inevitably about competition, but that should not come in the way of working together during critical times."Inclusive development has been my theme throughout my 16 years in politics and I believe in inclusiveness and in development. I also believe in national security and national interest," Tharoor later told reporters that "nation first" has always been his guiding philosophy. "I came back to India only to serve the nation in whatever way I can, through and outside politics," he said, adding, "I have tried to do that."The Congress leader also addressed speculation about internal party tensions following his appointment to lead an all-party delegation on Operation Sindoor."While I have been steering clear of such political discussions in public, I felt a student deserved a response," Tharoor said in a post on X, where he also shared a video of the reiterated his belief that political parties should not hesitate to join hands in moments of national importance. Quoting former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Tharoor said, "Who lives if India dies?" and urged political actors to put aside differences when the nation is at has recently drawn criticism from within his party for an article in which he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "energy" and "dynamism" in global diplomacy. The article was later shared by the Prime Minister's Office, fuelling further speculation about Tharoor's ties with the Congress high command.- EndsMust Watch
News18
19-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Nation first, parties are means to make country better: Shashi Tharoor
Kochi, Jul 19 (PTI) Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said that nation comes first and parties are the means of making the country better. Tharoor, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said that the objective of a party is to create a better India and parties have the right to disagree on the best way to do that. He also said that he will stand his ground regarding supporting the nation's armed forces and the government as he believes 'this is the right thing for the country". 'Which is your first loyalty? To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a means of making the nation better. So, to my mind, whichever party you belong to, the objective of the party is to create a better India in its own way. 'Now, parties have every right to disagree about the best way of doing that.. As you know, a lot of people have been very critical of me because of the stand I have taken, supporting our armed forces and our government, and what happened recently in our country and our borders," he said, while speaking at a private event here on 'Peace, Harmony and National Development'. 'But I will stand my ground, because I believe this is the right thing for the country," the Congress MP added. During his speech, he further said that politics is unfortunately or otherwise, in any democracy, about competition. 'As a result, when people like me say we respect our parties, we have certain values and convictions that keep us in our parties, but we need to cooperate with other parties in the interests of national security, sometimes the parties feel that its disloyal to them and that becomes a big problem," he said. Later, on the sidelines of the event, he told reporters that 'nation first was always my philosophy". He said that he came back to India only to serve the nation in whatever he can, through and outside politics. 'I have tried to do that," he said. On being asked whether he has any problems with the Congress high command, he said he was not here to discuss any politics or problems. 'I came to give two speeches. Both the speeches were on themes I hope the public will respect and value. First one was about development, the role of businesses and peace and harmony. 'The second was mainly on the theme of communal harmony and trying, at the same time, to live together in order for all of us to grow and develop. Inclusive development has been my theme throughout my 16 years in politics and I believe in inclusiveness and in development. I also believe in national security and national interest," he said. Regarding the recent survey controversy, Tharoor said he frankly does not know who carries out such surveys. 'Someone forwarded it to me and I did a salute as a reply. I did not have anything more to say and I made no comment and I am not making any comment," he said. He was replying to a reporter's query regarding a survey which suggested he is the Congress-led UDF's most preferred choice for chief minister. PTI HMP HMP KH view comments First Published: July 19, 2025, 22:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
