Difference between 'Congress mein hona, Congress ka hona': Jairam Ramesh's dig at Tharoor sparks friction

The government named Tharoor as a leader of one of the seven multi-party delegations to project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations and carry to the world the country's message of zero tolerance against terrorism.

New Delhi: Two remarks -- one by Jairam Ramesh and the other by Shashi Tharoor -- on Saturday indicated the widening chasm between the Thiruvananthapuram MP and the Congress.

Party General Secretary (Communications) Ramesh spoke about the “huge difference between being in the Congress and of the Congress”, while Tharoor, who was “honoured by the invitation” he got from the government to lead a multi-party delegation to campaign against Pakistan, insisted that “no one can insult me” and that the party may have its view about his capabilities.

The Modi government's decision to include Tharoor in the delegations despite Congress not recommending his name has triggered fresh trouble in the already fragile relationship between the 69-year-old MP and his party.

The government publicised its statement at 9:19 am, enraging the Congress and at 10:09 am, Ramesh posted on 'X' that Congress had recommended four names, which excludes Tharoor, in a letter by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi after calls by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju to him and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

At 10:41 am, Tharoor took to ‘X’ to talk about the invite and said, “When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting.”

Soon after, Ramesh held a media briefing where he said in an apparent swipe at Tharoor, “Congress mein hona aur Congress ka hona mein zameen-aasmaan ka antar hai (There is a huge difference between being in the Congress and of the Congress).”

“The Congress is like the mighty Ganga, which has many tributaries. Some of them dry up and some get polluted,” he said but refused to acknowledge questions on whether the party would take action against Tharoor.

He went on to say that if the government wants to send him as part of a delegation, the MP should be asking the party.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor did not find anything wrong in him accepting the invite. He claimed he had already told the party about the government reaching out to him and added, "We can do politics only if the country is there."

Asked whether he was insulted, he shot back, "No one can insult me that easily." He said the issue is between the party and the government over nomination and that he only accepted the invite as it is a national duty.

He said when he received the official invitation on Friday, he accepted it. The party may have its view about whether he is capable enough or not, Tharoor said when referred to the four choices of the party.