'Stood The Test Of Time': Tharoor Says PM Modi Views Constitution As 'Sacrosanct', Mentions RSS

Last Updated:January 24, 2026, 14:32 IST

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor noted that even organisations which once rejected it, such as the RSS, have since embraced it. 

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor | File Image

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said Prime Minister Narendra Modi regards the Constitution as “sacrosanct", underscoring what he described as the document’s enduring strength.

He noted that even organisations which once rejected it, such as the RSS, have since embraced it.

Responding to a question from the audience at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode, Tharoor said the Constitution “has stood the test of time," adding that its acceptance across the political spectrum reflects its resilience and relevance.

Tharoor’s remarks came amid ongoing speculation about his ties with the Congress leadership.

Addressing questions on the sidelines of the festival, the Thiruvananthapuram MP insisted he has never deviated from the party’s position in Parliament, except for one instance of principled disagreement related to Operation Sindoor.

“I have at no stage violated any of the Congress’ positions in Parliament," Tharoor said, as quoted by PTI.

“The only issue where there has been public disagreement on principle is Operation Sindoor, where I took a strong stand, and I remain unapologetic about that."

Tharoor had led India’s outreach to countries in the Americas to explain New Delhi’s stance on counterterrorism and Pakistan’s role in sponsoring terrorism.

He said his position stemmed from a belief that terror attacks should not go unanswered, though he maintained that any response should be limited and targeted.

His comments follow media reports pointing to alleged differences with the party leadership, including claims that he felt sidelined by state leaders and insufficiently acknowledged by senior Congress figures at a recent event in Kochi.

Tharoor also skipped a meeting involving the Kerala Congress leadership and the AICC high command ahead of next year’s assembly polls, fuelling further speculation.

Clarifying his absence, Tharoor said it was preferable to raise concerns directly within the party rather than air them publicly.

“Several things have appeared in the media — some may be true, others not — and such matters should not be discussed on public platforms," he said, adding that he had informed the party in advance about his inability to attend the meeting.

“Whatever I have to say will be said within the party."

The senior leader also referred to a newspaper column he wrote after the Pahalgam attack, in which he argued that the incident should not go unpunished and called for a calibrated, kinetic response focused on terrorist camps rather than a prolonged conflict with Pakistan.

He said he was surprised when the government later acted broadly along the lines he had suggested.

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