Shashi Tharoor says he has differences of opinion with some in Congress leadership
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 19 (PTI): Congress Working Committee (CWC) member Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said he has differences of opinion with some in the party leadership, but he is not going to speak about them in light of the bypoll in the Nilambur constituency.
Speaking to reporters here, Tharoor-- who came under attack from some party colleagues for supporting the Modi government's stand following the Pahalgam terror attack -- said that the Congress, its values, and its workers are very dear to him.
He said he has worked closely with party workers for 16 years and regards them as close friends and brothers.
"However, I do have differences of opinion with some in the Congress leadership. You know what I am talking about, as some of those issues are there in the public domain and have been reported by you (media)," Tharoor said.
He did not clarify whether his differences of opinion were with the national or state leadership. The Thiruvananthapuram MP indicated that he might talk about those differences after the bypoll results.
Tharoor's remarks come at a time when the Congress has not publicly backed him, after a party leader described him as the "super spokesperson of the BJP.
Former Congress MP Udit Raj had termed Tharoor as the "super spokesperson" of the BJP over his remarks during his international delegation visits when he allegedly said that India crossed the LoC for the first time in 2015.
Responding to the same, Tharoor on Thursday termed it as a "misconception".
He also said that he decided not to enter into an argument over it as he was very busy with the delegation visits and he did not want to respond to statements which were made without understanding what he had said.
On being asked whether he was going to leave the party, he said he was "not going anywhere".
"I am a member of the Congress party. Let the party decide what it thinks about me," he said.
Asked why he was not part of the by-poll campaign, Tharoor said he was not invited to it as was the practice during the other by-elections, including the one in Wayanad held last year.
"I do not go where I am not invited," he said and added that he wants the party workers' campaign efforts to bear fruit and the UDF candidate to win from Nilambur.
He also said that he was probably not needed in Nilambur. "If I was needed there, I would have gone there".
Regarding his recent talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Tharoor said it was regarding the delegations' visits to various countries in connection with Operation Sindoor and the discussions held there.
"No domestic politics were discussed," he said.
Defending his decision to accept the Centre's invite to head one of the delegations, he said that when he became the chairman of the External Affairs Committee of the Parliament, he had made it clear that he was focused on India's foreign policy and its national interest and not the foreign policy of the Congress and BJP.
"I have not changed my line. When an issue concerning the nation comes up, we are all obligated to work and speak for the country. What I said during Operation Sindoor was my own opinion.
"The Centre asked for my services. Indeed, my party did not. So, I proudly did my duty as an Indian citizen," he said.
He further said that he was trusted four times by the people of Thiruvananthapuram to represent them and he has been working for them.
"When we take up a responsibility, we need to see it through with confidence and sincerity. That is what I have done all my life. The central government gave me a responsibility and I saw it through with the same sincerity. If such opportunities come again, I will be there," he said.
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OpenAI to open first India office in New Delhi
New Delhi: OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, on Friday announced plans to open its first office in India later this year, selecting New Delhi as its base. The decision comes as India emerges as the company’s second-largest user base after the United States and one of its fastest-growing markets, with weekly active users rising more than fourfold over the past year.
The office will support the government’s IndiaAI mission and strengthen partnerships with local stakeholders. It will also help OpenAI serve students, educators, developers, and businesses who rely on its AI tools for learning, creativity, and problem-solving.
“The level of excitement and opportunity for AI in India is incredible. India has all the ingredients to become a global AI leader, amazing tech talent, a world-class developer ecosystem, and strong government support through the IndiaAI Mission,” said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. “Opening our first office and building a local team is an important step in our commitment to make advanced AI more accessible across the country and to build AI for India, and with India.”
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed the move, calling it a recognition of India’s leadership in digital innovation and AI adoption. “With strong investments in digital public infrastructure, AI talent, and enterprise-scale solutions, India is uniquely positioned to drive the next wave of AI-led transformation,” he said.
While the exact location of the office is yet to be finalised, OpenAI has registered an entity in India and begun building a local team. The team will focus on collaboration with government, businesses, developers, and academic institutions, as well as on designing features tailored to India to make AI more affordable and accessible.
OpenAI’s technology is already being used in India across sectors including agriculture, recruitment, and governance. To deepen engagement, the company will host its first Education Summit in India this month, followed by its first Developer Day later this year.
Recruitment for various roles is underway, with further details on the office and upcoming initiatives expected in the coming months.
