‘Who Lives If India Dies?’: Shashi Tharoor’s Fiery Defence Amid Tensions with Congress High Command

On July 19, 2025, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, known for his eloquence and independent streak, stirred the political pot with a passionate defence of his “nation-first” stance during an event in Kochi, Kerala. Quoting former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s iconic line, “Who lives if India dies?”, Tharoor underscored that national security and unity must supersede party loyalty—a position that has deepened his rift with the Congress high command. His remarks, made in response to a high school student’s question about his strained relations with party leadership, have sparked widespread debate about his future within the Indian National Congress and the broader dynamics of Indian politics. Here’s a deep dive into the controversy, Tharoor’s stance, and its implications.

The Context: A Rift Widens

Shashi Tharoor, a four-term MP from Thiruvananthapuram and a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), has long been a polarizing figure within his party. His recent actions—particularly his vocal support for the Narendra Modi government’s Operation Sindoor, a military response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people—have drawn sharp criticism from Congress leaders. Tharoor’s appointment by the central government to lead a multi-party delegation for global diplomatic outreach post-Operation Sindoor, despite the Congress proposing other names like Gaurav Gogoi and Anand Sharma, further fueled tensions. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh remarked that Tharoor’s views were “personal” and not reflective of the party’s stance, while party president Mallikarjun Kharge took a veiled swipe, stating, “For Congress, it is country first, but for some, it’s Modi first.”

Tharoor’s praise for Modi’s “energy” and “dynamism” in handling the operation, coupled with his critical remarks on the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi in 1975, have irked the Congress brass. His article for Project Syndicate, where he described the Emergency as a “dark period” marked by “excesses” like forced sterilizations, was seen as a direct challenge to the party’s narrative, which often downplays that era. In Kerala, senior leaders like K. Muraleedharan and Ramesh Chennithala have openly criticized Tharoor, with Muraleedharan even calling for a boycott of the MP by Congress workers in Thiruvananthapuram, accusing him of adopting a “pro-BJP” stance.

Tharoor’s Defence: Nation Over Party

Speaking at the Kochi event on ‘Peace, Harmony and National Development,’ Tharoor responded to the criticism with characteristic clarity. Addressing a student’s question about his equation with the Congress leadership, he said, “Politics is, unfortunately or otherwise, about competition. 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 interest of national security, sometimes the parties feel that is disloyal.” Quoting Nehru, he added, “Who lives if India dies? And that’s a question to which there is no answer. India must come first, then only can we all live.”

Tharoor emphasized that political parties are merely “vehicles to make the nation better,” arguing that ideological differences—whether on capitalism, socialism, or regulation—should not obstruct unity on national security. “I speak for all Indians, not just those who may like my party,” he declared, defending his support for the government and armed forces post-Pahalgam. His remarks were not just a rebuttal to his critics but a call for cross-party collaboration during national crises, a stance he reiterated on X: “In Kochi today, I was asking inevitable question by a high school student. While I have been steering clear of such political discussions in public, I felt a student deserved a response.”

The Kerala Angle: CM Ambitions and Party Friction

The tensions are not limited to national politics. In Kerala, Tharoor’s rising visibility has caused unease within the state Congress unit, especially after a July 2025 Vote Vibe survey ranked him as the most preferred Chief Ministerial candidate for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), with 28.3% support compared to 15.4% for Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan. Tharoor’s cryptic response to the survey—a salute emoji on X—drew sharp rebukes from Kerala Congress leaders, who accused him of fueling “unnecessary controversies” ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Muraleedharan remarked, “He should first decide which party he belongs to,” while Chennithala called Tharoor’s praise for Modi “not correct.”

Tharoor’s independent approach, including his praise for certain policies of the CPI(M)-led Kerala government and his critique of the Congress’s focus on past narratives, has further alienated him from the state unit. His non-alignment with the Gandhi family, evident in his 2022 bid for Congress presidency against Kharge, adds to the perception that he is not a “loyalist.”

Implications: A Breaking Point?

The ongoing rift raises questions about Tharoor’s future in the Congress. Reports suggest the party is considering measures to “muzzle” him during the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, fearing his support for Modi’s policies could undermine the opposition’s narrative. Some speculate that Tharoor is deliberately forcing a break, with his cryptic X post—“Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one”—hinting at his readiness to chart an independent path.

However, Tharoor’s allies argue he remains committed to the Congress, viewing it as his political home since entering politics in 2009. His popularity in Thiruvananthapuram, where he has won four consecutive Lok Sabha elections, and his global stature as a former UN diplomat make him a valuable asset. Yet, his isolation within the party is evident: he was notably excluded from an All India Professionals Congress event in Kochi, and senior leader Rajmohan Unnithan called him an “isolated voice” whose actions harm the party.

The BJP, meanwhile, has capitalized on the discord, with spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari accusing the Congress of “internal hypocrisy” for opposing Tharoor’s inclusion in the Operation Sindoor delegation. Political observers suggest that if Tharoor were to leave the Congress, his UDF allies in Kerala might back him, potentially reshaping the state’s political landscape.

Looking Ahead

Tharoor’s “nation-first” stance, encapsulated in his invocation of Nehru’s words, reflects a rare willingness to prioritize national interest over partisan politics—a position that resonates with many Indians but alienates him within his party. As the Congress grapples with internal divisions and the 2026 Kerala elections loom, Tharoor’s role remains a flashpoint. Will he reconcile with the high command, or is this the beginning of a new chapter in his political journey? His eloquence and conviction ensure that, for now, all eyes remain on him.

As Tharoor himself put it, “India must come first, then only can we all live.” Whether the Congress agrees or not, his words echo a sentiment that transcends party lines, challenging the status quo in a deeply polarized political landscape.

Sources: Hindustan Times, News18, Times Now, ABP Live, India Today, The Hindu, Times of India, The Wire, NDTV, The Financial Express, Mathrubhumi, Frontline, X posts by @ShashiTharoor, @latestly, @monologuetrails, @TheFederal_News, @NewIndianXpress, @abplive, @livemint, @moneycontrolcom.