The Congress party launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture, dismissing the entire address as petty, divisive, and devoid of substance while openly expressing astonishment that senior leader and three-time MP Shashi Tharoor could find anything worthy of appreciation in it.

Party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told the media on Wednesday that the Prime Minister wasted a prestigious platform meant for reflection on journalism and national progress by once again turning it into an election speech filled with personal attacks on the Congress. She emphasised that he should have explained why his government consistently avoids press conferences and remains hostile toward journalists who ask difficult questions.

Shrinate pointed out that throughout the lecture the Prime Minister repeatedly targeted the Congress, accused it of sheltering Naxal sympathisers, and claimed moral superiority on development, adding sarcastically that Mr Modi appears unable to deliver even a single speech without obsessing over the Congress day and night.

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The public rebuke gained intensity because Tharoor, despite nursing a severe cold, attended the event at the invitation of The Indian Express and later posted on social media praise, describing the Prime Minister’s remarks as an inspiring blend of economic vision and cultural call to action that urged the nation to adopt “constructive impatience” and discard colonial mindsets.

This latest episode marks yet another occasion where Tharoor’s independent appreciation of certain actions or statements by the Prime Minister has triggered unease within the party. Previous instances include his strong criticism of dynastic politics across all parties and his acknowledgment of specific government initiatives, comments the BJP has repeatedly weaponised to highlight alleged ideological confusion inside the Congress high command.

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