'Concern For Indians Should...': Tharoor Decries Partisan Politics After Remarks On Modi-Trump Meet

Published 20 June 2026 · politics

'Concern For Indians Should...': Tharoor Decries Partisan Politics After Remarks On Modi-Trump Meet Published By, Last Updated: June 20, 2026, 16:30 IST Tharoor slammed the

'Concern For Indians Should...': Tharoor Decries Partisan Politics After Remarks On Modi-Trump Meet Published By, Last Updated: June 20, 2026, 16:30 IST Tharoor slammed the controversy over his endorsement of PM Modi's remarks and stressed that the safety of Indian seafarers should be prioritised over partisan politics. Rapid Read Congress MP Shashi Tharoor | File Image Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday hit out at “partisan politics" after he previously endorsed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on the safety of Indian sailors made during the G7 Summit. Earlier, the Congress had accused PM Modi of remaining “silent" on the deaths of three Indian seafarers killed in a US strike on a merchant vessel during his meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. However, Tharoor said the Prime Minister had conveyed India’s concerns over the safety of civilian sailors during his talks with Trump.

The BJP was quick to seize on Tharoor’s remarks, claiming that the Congress leader’s endorsement of Modi’s diplomacy had exposed Rahul Gandhi’s position. A BJP spokesperson said Tharoor had “busted the fake narrative of Rahul Gandhi," who had claimed that the Modi government had surrendered in its meeting with Trump. ‘Concern For Indians Should Unite Us’ Talking to X, Shashi Tharoor slammed the controversy over his remarks and stressed that the safety of Indian seafarers should be prioritised over partisan politics. “Frankly, I find it extraordinary that a statement about protecting Indian civilian sailors is being twisted into a partisan political controversy. Three Indians lost their lives. My remarks were about the safety of our citizens and the principle that civilian seafarers should never be targets of military action," he said. Frankly, I find it extraordinary that a statement about protecting Indian civilian sailors is being twisted into a partisan political controversy.Three Indians lost their lives.

My remarks were about the safety of our citizens and the principle that civilian seafarers should… — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) June 20, 2026 “If some people are more interested in scoring political points than addressing that concern, that says more about them than it does about me. Concern for Indian lives should unite us, not divide us," the Congress MP added. The Modi-Trump meeting took place on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian, France. The US president described the Indian leader as a “good-looking guy" and a “tough negotiator." Meanwhile, Tharoor also pushed for a Trump visit to India, whether as part of the Quad summit, a separate bilateral, or potentially a Republic Day visit in 2026. “Language, especially with a loquacious president, is not a terribly expensive thing," he said. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18.