Congress leader Manickam Tagore took a veiled dig at Shashi Tharoor for allegedly echoing BJP’s stance on the 1975–77 Emergency, calling it a “dark chapter.” His remarks sparked internal friction and metaphor-heavy social media reactions.
Tagore’s post on X read
“When a colleague starts repeating the BJP lines word for word, you begin to wonder — is the bird now becoming a parrot? Mimicry is cute in birds but not in politics.” Though Tharoor wasn’t named or pointed directly but all the timing and tone left a little doubt about the target. The post followed by Tharoor’s article in Malayalam daily Deepika, where he have criticized the excesses of the Emergency, including forced sterilizations and slum demolitions led by Sanjay Gandhi.
Tharoor’s piece emphasized the need for democratic vigilance
The centralization of power could resurface it under different guises. He then wrote, “Let it serve as a lasting reminder to people everywhere. Today’s India is not the India of 1975.” While many saw this as a call for introspection and others within the Congress viewed it as aligning too closely with the BJP’s long-standing critique of the Emergency.
This isn’t the first time Tharoor has found himself at odds with his party’s leadership
His recent praise of Prime Minister Modi’s global outreach and his role in Operation Sindoor have raised eyebrows among Congress loyalists. Tharoor’s have cryptic a long post last month — “Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one” which was widely interpreted as a assertion of independence from party constraints.
Tagore have responded with his own metaphor
Warning that even free birds must watch the skies from the predators. “Freedom isn’t free, especially when the predators wear patriotism as feathers,” he wrote, adding fuel to the growing perception.
The exchange has reignited debates about ideological coherence within the Congress
While Tharoor maintains that his views are rooted in a democratic values and historical reflection, critics argue that his public messaging risks were blurring the party’s stance at a time when unity is very crucial.
