Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said that politics in a democracy revolves around competition. He explained that cross-party cooperation is sometimes misunderstood as betrayal. Tharoor made these comments while speaking to a high school student in Kochi. The student had asked about his recent relationship with the Congress leadership, especially after he led an all-party delegation to the Americas following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.

Cooperation Not Disloyalty

Tharoor clarified that working with other parties does not mean disloyalty to his own. He stated, “Politics is… about competition. When people like me say we respect our parties… but we need to cooperate with other parties in the interest of national security… sometimes the parties feel this is disloyal. That becomes a big problem.”

National Security Comes First

The Congress MP firmly said that for him, national security always comes before politics. He mentioned that he has faced criticism for supporting the government and armed forces after recent attacks. However, he defended his position, saying, “A lot of people have been very critical of me because of the stand I’ve taken supporting our armed forces and our government… But I will stand my ground because I believe this is the right thing for the country.”

Focus on a Safer India

Tharoor stressed that every political party ultimately works to make India stronger in its own way. He said, “To my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are a means of making the nation better.” He added that despite ideological differences, like capitalism versus socialism, all parties must work towards a safer India.

Appeal for Unity

Tharoor appealed to all political parties to remain united when the nation faces threats. Citing India’s first Prime Minister, he said, “Who lives if India dies?”

‘Nation First’ Philosophy

Later, Tharoor told reporters that his approach has always been “nation first.” He explained that he returned to India to serve the country in every possible way, inside and outside politics.

No Comment on Congress Leadership Issues

When asked about any problems with the Congress high command, Tharoor chose not to comment. He said that the focus of the event was not political disputes.