New Delhi Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday distanced himself from Rahul Gandhi’s endorsement of US President Donald Trump’s “dead economy” jibe at India, saying the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha must have had his “own reasons” for backing the remark. The former Congress chief had earlier endorsed Donald Trump’s scathing criticism of the Indian economy. “Yes, he is right. Everybody knows this except the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister. The Indian economy is a dead economy. I’m glad President Trump has stated a fact.
Tharoor refrained from echoing Gandhi’s sharp critique. On Thursday, he described the US tariffs as possibly a “bargaining tactic” amid ongoing trade negotiations and urged support for Indian negotiators. “We must give strong support to our negotiators to get the best possible deal,” he said. However, he also warned that “if a good deal is not possible, we may have to walk away.”
The exchange comes amid growing tensions between Tharoor and the Congress leadership, especially following his public support for Operation Sindoor — a military operation launched by the Indian armed forces to avenge the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack. Tharoor has repeatedly stated that “nation comes before party”, drawing a sharp contrast with the Congress’s line.
The divide widened further when the central government appointed Tharoor to head the Operation Sindoor delegation to the United States, a move made without Congress’s nomination. His acceptance of the role has been seen as a defiance of the party’s stance, deepening internal fissures.
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