Trivandrum: Indian parliamentarian Dr MP Shashi Tharoor has given a strong reply to the explanation sought by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Mullappally Ramachandran for his Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praise, according to Times of India.

In his detailed reply, Dr Tharoor has made it clear that he has been a staunch critic of Modi and his tweet has been blown out of proportion.

Dr Tharoor even has urged the KPCC president to point out the statement in which he has praised Modi. “I urge my critics to look at the national picture and realise how we have to revamp our strategy to become a winning party again. Be fierce in our criticisms of the Modi Government, as I have been, but make sure our criticisms are taken seriously by the public because they are occasionally balanced against acknowledgments of genuine examples of right actions. Show the public that we stand up for national interests first, and demonstrate that those interests would be safer in our hands than his party’s,” said Tharoor.

The excerpts from the letter shared by Times of India reads that “I urge my critics to look at the national picture and realise how we have to revamp our strategy to become a winning party again. Be fierce in our criticisms of the Modi Government, as I have been, but make sure our criticisms are taken seriously by the public because they are occasionally balanced against acknowledgments of genuine examples of right actions. Show the public that we stand up for national interests first, and demonstrate that those interests would be safer in our hands than his party’s – by agreeing when he takes the same stands as we would, and disagreeing strongly when he doesn’t, as well as pointing out the failures in his execution of chosen policies. That’s what a constructive Opposition does – and what the Congress should.”

“In summary, let me say that I have been a strong critic of the Modi government, and I hope a constructive one. My staunch defence of inclusive values and constitutional principles has won me three elections. I am second to none in working for the Party’s values in Parliament. I urge my fellow Congressmen from Kerala to respect my approach even when they don’t agree with it.”

On Tuesday, the KPCC had sent a notice to Dr Tharoor, asking for an explanation over his “praise” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, setting the stage for a direct, official confrontation between the leader and his partymen.

Dr Tharoor has been facing flak throughout last week from top Congress leaders in Kerala over his remark that Modi should be praised for doing the right things.

State leaders are unhappy as the remarks come at a time when the Congress is gearing up for a crucial by-election in an assembly seat in the capital, Vattiyoorkavu, where the party is engaged in a prestige battle with Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The battle also reveals the bitter relations between senior leaders and the three-time MP. During the Lok Sabha elections in May, reportedly following complaints from Tharoor of non-cooperation from senior leaders with his election campaign, Congress central leadership had appointed Maharashtra leader Nana Patole as an observor.

On Tuesday, Congress state chief Mullappally Ramachandran told reporters in Kannur that several party leaders and workers have approached the leadership with complaints against Tharoor’s “Modi praise”, prompting him to seek an official explanation.

“Congress workers across the country have expressed extreme displeasure over the statement made by Tharoor. Party leaders have also approached me with written complaints. Hence, the KPCC has decided to seek an explanation from Tharoor in this regard,” Ramachandran said.

In response, Tharoor tweeted: “I’ve been a strong critic of the Modi government and I hope a constructive one. My staunch defence of inclusive values and constitutional principles has won me 3 elections. I urge my fellow Congressmen to respect my approach even when they don’t agree with it.”

Ramachandran added that the state party organ, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee or the KPCC, would submit a report on the matter to its national counterpart All India Congress Committee (AICC), which will take the final call.

Tharoor and his colleague Abhishek Manu Singhvi had last week supported senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh’s remarks at a public event that not recognising Modi’s work and “demonising” him all the time was not going to help. Officially, Congress had distanced itself from the views of leaders. Tharoor had defended his position on Sunday.

“As you know, I have argued for six years now that @narendramodi should be praised whenever he says or does the right thing, which would add credibility to our criticisms whenever he errs. I welcome others in Oppn coming around to a view for which I was excoriated at the time!” he had tweeted.