Congress party divides over Tharoor's praise for Modi

A political controversy has erupted within India's main opposition party after a senior Congress leader publicly supported Prime Minister Narendra Modi's diplomatic stance on an international maritime crisis. The dispute centers on comments made by Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor regarding Modi's recent meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Tharoor, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, stated that Prime Minister Modi had forcefully raised concerns over the safety of civilian sailors during his interactions with President Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. Tharoor's remarks referenced a recent incident in the Gulf of Oman where three Indian seafarers were killed when U.S. military forces struck a merchant vessel. He emphasized that civilian sailors on commercial ships should not be targets of military action, a principle he said Modi conveyed.

These comments prompted a sharp rebuke from within his own party. Congress media department head Pawan Khera publicly mocked Tharoor, suggesting his admiration for the Prime Minister had "transcended the limitations of the physical world" and that he now seemed "capable of hearing what Modi doesn't even say." Khera...