Shashi Tharoor Dodges CJP’s Call to Comment on Modi’s Temple Visit

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor ignored a challenge from Cockroach Janta Party co‑convenor Saurav Das to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s prayer visit to a Vinayak temple in New Delhi. The exchange began after Modi completed 25 years in continuous power, first as Gujarat chief minister and then as India’s prime minister, and was photographed offering prayers at the shrine. Das posted the image on X, tagging Tharoor and recalling the MP’s 2018 remark about a scorpion on a Shivling. He wrote, “I see this and am reminded of a banger comment by Dr. Tharoor, would it be an unconscionable imposition upon your eloquence to solicit a reprise of that ineffably felicitous observation, sir?” Das added a slogan that the streets belong to the people and that democracy will be reclaimed from the streets. Tharoor’s response was limited to a non‑committal statement, effectively sidestepping Das’s elaborate request.

Context

The incident shows how opposition figures use social‑media tags and historic remarks to press ruling‑party leaders, while the ruling party’s long tenure continues to draw criticism and creative protests from smaller parties.