Shashi Tharoor Clarifies Comments on Rahul Gandhi's Student Program

In a recent statement, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor clarified his comments about Rahul Gandhi's 'Students' Echo' program, which he felt did not garner enough support from Gen Z compared to other protests. Tharoor expressed disappointment over media portrayals of his remarks as attacks on his party. He emphasized the importance of political parties listening to new voices and creating opportunities for the next generation. His comments have sparked discussions on the relevance of established parties in today's political landscape. Read on for more insights into Tharoor's perspective and the implications for the Congress party.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 9, 2026, 08:29 IST

Tharoor Addresses Controversial Remarks

New Delhi, August 8 - Congress leader Shashi Tharoor provided clarification on Saturday regarding his earlier remarks, where he stated that Rahul Gandhi's 'Students' Echo' initiative did not receive as much support from Gen Z as the protests organized by the 'Cockroach Public Party'. He expressed disappointment that the media portrayed his comments as an attack on his own party or its leadership.

Tharoor emphasized that his intention was to highlight the need for political parties to open their doors and create pathways for the next generation to shape politics. During an event in Maharashtra on Friday, he remarked that all opposition parties must recognize that they have not created avenues for those who were present at the Jantar Mantar protests last month.

The Congress leader pointed out that established parties will struggle to remain relevant unless they listen to the new voices they have previously ignored. He noted that the issues raised by Rahul Gandhi's 'Students' Echo' program were similar to those highlighted by the 'Cockroach Public Party'.

When questioned about the lack of support for the 'Students' Echo' programs compared to the protests at Jantar Mantar, Tharoor acknowledged, 'That's true. And that's why we need to ask ourselves what we failed to do.' On Saturday, he asserted that journalists had misrepresented his statements.