Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s appreciation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Ramnath Goenka lecture has become a major controversy within the party. Many Congress leaders have expressed displeasure over this comment of Tharoor. The strongest reaction came from party leader Sandeep Dixit, who directly asked Tharoor why he remained in the Congress if he felt the BJP’s policies were better.

Sandeep Dixit’s allegation – ‘Tharoor does not understand the country properly’
Sandeep Dixit said that he does not think that Shashi Tharoor understands the country very well. He said that if anyone thinks that a leader or government is doing good work for the country by going against the policies of the Congress, then such a person should adopt the same policies and explain why he is in the Congress. He said that if Tharoor really feels that the strategies of BJP or Prime Minister Modi are better than those of Congress, then he should clarify it openly. If he is not able to do this, he will be called a hypocrite.

What did Tharoor say? Why did the ruckus start?
The whole controversy started when Shashi Tharoor openly praised Prime Minister Modi’s Ramnath Goenka lecture. Tharoor said in his post that in the speech, Prime Minister Modi talked about India’s ‘constructive impatience for development’ and stressed on ‘getting out of the colonial mentality’. Tharoor also wrote that the entire speech was impressive both from an economic perspective and as a cultural appeal. He also told that he attended the lecture despite suffering from severe cold and cough because he felt it was necessary.

Attended PM @narendramodi‘s #RamnathGoenkaLecture at the invitation of @IndianExpress last night. 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’… pic.twitter.com/97HwGgQ67N

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) November 18, 2025

Supriya Shrinet’s question – ‘Why is PM Modi angry with journalism?’
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinet also raised questions on Tharoor’s opinion. He said that he did not find anything in Prime Minister Modi’s speech that could be appreciated. Shrinet alleged that the Prime Minister is unhappy with impartial journalism and does not like journalists who show and speak the truth. He also said that Modi spent a lot of time criticizing Congress in his speech and it shows that he ‘thinks about Congress day and night.’ Srinet said that he did not know what Shashi Tharoor found worth appreciating in this speech.

What did PM Modi say in his speech?
In the Ramnath Goenka lecture, Prime Minister Modi also commented on the Bihar election results. He said that this election has given a clear message to the governments of all the states that their future will depend on their development policies, whether they are Left, Right or Centre. He also took a dig at those who say that BJP is always in ‘election mode’. Modi said that BJP does not live in election mode but in ’emotional mode’ and wins elections only by being dedicated to the emotions and development of the people 24×7.

Voting for the first phase of Bihar Assembly elections (2025) ended on Thursday (November 06, 2025). Voting took place on 121 seats in 18 districts including Patna. JDU leader Ashok Choudhary, his wife Neeta Choudhary and LJP-Ram Vilas MP Shambhavi Choudhary went to the polling booth at St. Paul’s School in Buddha Colony (Patna) and voted. After voting, on Thursday, Shambhavi Choudhary had shown the ink on each finger of both her hands, after which she is now facing questions. Congress and RJD have started attacking regarding this.

On Friday (November 07, 2025), Congress leader Supriya Shrinet, while sharing Shambhavi Chaudhary’s picture, wrote, “NDA MP Shambhavi Chaudhary in Bihar, for the first time in the elections, ink is being applied on both the fingers. How much will these people destroy elections and democracy?”

NDA MP in Bihar Shambhavi Chaudhary

For the first time, ink is being applied on both fingers in elections.

How much will these people destroy elections and democracy? pic.twitter.com/HPB2f4DYmV

— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) November 7, 2025

This is a different level of fraud: RJD

RJD spokesperson Kanchana Yadav posted the video of Shambhavi Choudhary on Instagram and wrote, “This is a different level of fraud going on. This is LJP MP Shambhavi Choudhary. There is ink on both the hands. Which means he voted twice. When this thing came to light, his father Ashok Choudhary is signaling him with eye signals. Election Commission, how is all this happening? Who will investigate this?”

This is a different level of fraud going on.

This is LJP MP Shambhavi Chaudhary Chaudhary. There is ink on both hands. Meaning they voted twice. When this matter came to light, his father Ashok Chaudhary was signaling him with his eyes.

Election Commission, how is all this happening?
Who will investigate this… pic.twitter.com/SWs0vg4sYw

— Kanchana Yadav (@Kanchanyadav000) November 7, 2025

Users are also raising questions

This video of Shambhavi Chaudhary is now being shared widely on social media. Along with the leaders of Viraksh, users are also raising questions. One person wrote on Twitter, “Did Shambhavi ji vote twice? Yesterday many BJP people were seen voting twice in a year but this became even more amazing… Voting at the same booth and ink on the fingers of both hands… Is this sponsored by Gyanesh Kumar’s Election Commission?”

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