'Indira Nazi Congress': BJP slams INC's backlash against Tharoor's Modi praise; claims party issues 'fatwas' for putting national interest first

NEW DELHI: BJP on Wednesday took a sharp dig at Congress for criticising party MP Shashi Tharoor after he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent address at the Ramnath Goenka Lecture, saying the party should rather be called "Indira Nazi Congress."

BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said the Congress reacts harshly to anyone who "keeps national interest above ‘Parivaric’ interest," adding that internal dissent is discouraged within the party.


"If somebody praises the Prime Minister's speech, which is about larger issues, then a 'fatwa' is issued against that person by the Congress, which talks about democracy in the entire country, but there is no democracy within their party... if someone keeps national interest above 'Parivaric' interest, then a fatwa is issued against them," Shehzad Poonawalla told ANI.

He further claimed that the Congress displays an "emergency mindset," remarking that the party should be called the "Indira Nazi Congress.”

"It should not be called the 'Indian National Congress'; it should be called the 'Indira Nazi Congress' because they demonstrate Indira's emergency mindset and Nazi dictatorial behaviour," Poonawalla added.

Tharoor praises PM Modi’s lecture

Tharoor, who attended the Ramnath Goenka Lecture on the invitation of the Indian Express, had posted a detailed note on X praising several aspects of the Prime Minister’s speech.

In his post, Tharoor wrote, "Attended PM @narendramodi's Ramnath Goenka Lecture. He spoke of India's 'constructive impatience' for development and strongly pushed for a post-colonial mindset. The PM emphasized that India is no longer just an 'emerging market' but an 'emerging model' for the world, noting its economic resilience. PM Modi said he'd been accused of being in "election mode" all the time, but he was really in "emotional mode" to redress the problems of the people."

Tharoor also noted the PM’s call for a national mission to reclaim India’s cultural heritage. "A significant part of the speech was dedicated to overturning Macaulay's 200-year legacy of 'slave mentality.' PM Modi appealed for a 10-year national mission to restore pride in India's heritage, languages, and knowledge systems. I wish he had also acknowledged how Ramnath Goenka had used English to raise a voice for Indian nationalism!" his post read.

He added that the address felt both like an economic outlook and a cultural call to action, saying he was "glad to have been in the audience despite battling a bad cold and cough."

Congress leader disagrees

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, however took jab at the Thiruvananthapuram MP stating that she did not find PM Modi’s address impressive and questioned what Tharoor found worth appreciating.

Shrinate had said, "I didn't find anything in the speech (of PM Modi) worth appreciating. I think PM must answer a lot of things. He was at an event of a newspaper. He should tell us what his problem is with fair journalism. He should have told us why is he not happy with those who show and speak truth... So, I didn't see any reason to appreciate him."

"I don't know how he (Shashi Tharoor) found one...I found it to be a petty speech. He criticised Congress there too. PM thinks of Congress day and night. This is amazing," Shrinate added.

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