“Is the Bird Becoming a Parrot?”: Manickam Tagore’s Swipe at Tharoor Over Emergency Op-Ed Sparks Congress Rift

New Delhi: In a fresh flashpoint within the Congress party, senior leader Manickam Tagore has seemingly taken a dig at fellow party MP Shashi Tharoor, indirectly accusing him of echoing the BJP’s line on the Emergency period. The jab came in the form of a cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter), where Tagore asked, “When a colleague starts repeating BJP lines word for word, you begin to wonder — is the Bird becoming a parrot? Mimicry is cute in birds, not in politics.”

Though Tharoor wasn’t named directly, the timing and tone left little doubt. The post came just hours after Tharoor published an article in Project Syndicate, reflecting on the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi between 1975 and 1977. While Tharoor did not deny the authoritarian aspects of that period, his article called for a deeper understanding of the Emergency’s “complexities and lessons,” beyond merely branding it as a dark chapter.

In the op-ed, Tharoor detailed how efforts to restore order during the Emergency often devolved into excesses. He cited forced sterilisation campaigns led by Sanjay Gandhi, violent slum demolitions in Delhi, and the disregard for individual rights — highlighting how the state apparatus overreached in the name of discipline and national interest.

Tharoor further cautioned that while India today is a stronger democracy, the warning signs of centralised power and suppressed dissent still remain relevant. “Often, such tendencies may be justified in the name of national interest or stability. In this sense, the Emergency stands as a strong warning. The guardians of democracy must always remain vigilant,” he wrote.

While many readers saw Tharoor’s remarks as a call for historical reflection and democratic vigilance, others within the Congress viewed it as lending credence to the BJP’s long-standing criticism of the Emergency — a stance they believe should be resisted rather than rationalised.

Manickam Tagore’s bird-parrot metaphor has not only sparked debate over internal dissent in the Congress but also reflects an ongoing struggle over how the party reconciles its past with present political narratives. The metaphor, subtly aimed at Tharoor’s often independent and high-profile positions, suggests a fear that senior Congress voices might be veering too close to the BJP’s ideological framing.