New Delhi: Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal has cautioned party members, including MP Shashi Tharoor, to be mindful of their comments, particularly concerning student protests led by Rahul Gandhi. Venugopal’s warning comes after Tharoor’s remarks comparing Congress’s student activism to that of the “Cockroach Janata Party” (CJP), a group that recently gained attention for its protests against question paper leaks.
Venugopal emphasized that while he did not believe Tharoor intended to cause harm with his statements, all party members should exercise caution. “All of us should take care, whether knowingly or unknowingly – and I don’t believe he said it knowingly, nor is he likely to say it intentionally – to refrain from making such remarks,” Venugopal was quoted as saying by news agency Press Trust of India. He further added, “Even if Congress members do not always strictly abide by party frameworks or discipline, we must be careful to avoid making statements that merely appease the BJP.”
During an event on Friday, Tharoor had commented on the Congress protests, stating, “Interestingly, the issues taken up by the CJP were something my party took up, Rahul Gandhi took up with Chhatron Ki Goonj… But we have to see why it did not resonate as much. We need to have a finger on the pulse of the people.” Rahul Gandhi’s “Chatron ka goonj” initiative was launched on June 17 in Kota, Rajasthan, shortly before the CJP’s protests at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on June 20, which focused on demanding accountability for paper leaks and the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
Tharoor, known for his independent views, also took the opportunity to highlight the democratic nature of the Congress party, contrasting it with the BJP. He stated, “I am not disloyal to my party but I express my independent views. Sometimes my views can be used by my opponents. The Congress is the least undemocratic. Have you heard of anyone expressing dissent in the BJP and survive? I am in the party that is closest to my views.”
