In a notable political development, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has once again publicly commended Prime Minister Narendra Modi, creating ripples within political circles. The Thiruvananthapuram MP expressed his admiration following the Prime Minister's address at a significant event in Delhi, despite battling a severe cold and cough to attend the function.
Tharoor's Detailed Appraisal of PM's Address
Taking to social media platform X on Tuesday, Tharoor shared his comprehensive analysis of Prime Minister Modi's speech delivered during the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture, organized by The Indian Express on Monday, November 17, 2025. The Congress MP described the Prime Minister's address as serving a dual purpose - functioning as both an economic outlook for the nation and what he termed a 'cultural call to action'.
Tharoor emphasized how PM Modi positioned India as an 'emerging model' for the global community, focusing particularly on the country's demonstrated economic resilience. The MP's detailed post highlighted the Prime Minister's vision for India's growing international stature and economic capabilities.
The Cultural Mission Against Colonial Legacy
A significant portion of Tharoor's appreciation centered on what he identified as a key theme in Modi's address - the concerted effort to overturn what the Prime Minister referred to as 'Macaulay's 200-year legacy of slave mentality'. This colonial mindset, according to the Prime Minister's speech, requires systematic addressing through national initiatives.
Tharoor noted that PM Modi proposed an ambitious ten-year national mission aimed at restoring pride in India's indigenous heritage, diverse languages, and traditional knowledge systems. The Congress MP conveyed the Prime Minister's emotional commitment to this cultural rejuvenation, quoting Modi's statement about being in an 'emotional mode' to redress public problems rather than being perpetually in 'election mode' as often accused by political opponents.
Political Context and Internal Party Dynamics
This public appreciation comes against the backdrop of recent political developments, particularly the Bihar Assembly Election Results where the NDA secured a landslide victory with 202 out of 243 constituencies. Tharoor's own Congress party faced significant setbacks in these elections, managing to win only six out of the 61 seats it contested.
The praise from Tharoor highlights the ongoing internal dynamics within the Congress party, where the MP has frequently found himself at odds with party lines when expressing admiration for the Prime Minister. This pattern became particularly evident several months earlier when Tharoor was selected to lead the Operation Sindoor delegation abroad without official recommendation from the Congress party.
Following his return from that international assignment, Tharoor had similarly commended PM Modi's leadership, describing the Prime Minister's energy and dynamism as valuable national assets deserving broader support. This recurring pattern of cross-party appreciation continues to generate discussion about political alignments and individual stances within India's complex political landscape.
