'I Speak For All Indians, Not Just Who Like My Party': Shashi Tharoor Defends Himself Amid Flak From Congress
Shashi Tharoor emphasized that national interest supersedes party loyalty, advocating for cooperation across party lines for national security.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said that the nation comes first and parties are the means of making the country better. The member of the party’s working committee, known as the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Tharoor 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 armed forces of the nation 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 an event.
“But I will stand my ground because I believe this is the right thing for the country. When I speak of India, I speak for all Indians, not just those who may like my party. I believe that is something that should apply to other parties, too. I am not only saying this to my party. I am saying it to all parties. Put differences aside when the nation is imperilled,” he added.
Tharoor further added 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.
According to news agency PTI, Tharoor later told reporters that nation first was always my philosophy. He said that he came back to India only to serve the nation in whatever way he can, through and outside politics.
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.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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