'Shashi Tharoor is looking for berth in BJP's sleeping cells inside Congress': CPI Kerala slams Lok Sabha MP

NEW DELHI: Communist Party of India (CPI) Kerala Secretary Binoy Viswam on Sunday took a swipe at Shashi Tharoor over him leading one of the delegations for briefing partner countries and said that Thiruvananthapuram MP is looking for a berth in the BJP's sleeping cells inside Congress.

In a post on X, the CPI Kerala secretary said, "@RahulGandhi Gandhi's concern about BJP sleeping cells inside Congress is not so simple. It seems that @sashhitharoor is in search of his berth in that cell. @BJP4India knows how to make use of such elements. For them, even the fight against terrorism is a hunt for party gains!"

The comments emerged after Tharoor accepted a government invitation to head a multi-party delegation overseas to present India's position against Pakistan regarding terrorism, despite his name not being included in Congress's official nominations.

Tharoor defended his acceptance on Saturday, stating he perceived no political agenda. He explained that Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju formally requested his leadership of the delegation, considering his diplomatic experience.

"I see no politics in it. According to me, politics become important when we have a nation. We all are Indians. When the nation is in crisis and the central government seeks the help of a citizen, what other answer would you give," he explained to reporters.

The Congress party had put forward different representatives: former Union minister Anand Sharma, deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Rajya Sabha MP Syed Naseer Hussain, and Lok Sabha MP Raja Brar, following the government's request for four MPs for the delegations.