Shashi Tharoor’s journey with the Congress is becoming more awkward with each passing day. A day after Mr Tharoor put up a post on birds, ostensibly sending a message to his critics within the Congress, a party MP has hit back with a ‘birds of prey’ retort.

Hours after a snub from party chief Mallikarjun Kharge over his recent praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Tharoor yesterday posted a bird’s photograph with a message. “Don’t ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one,” read the message that was seen as his response to detractors within the Congress.

Today, Congress MP M Manickam Tagore, seen as close to the party leadership, posted what seemed like a message to Mr Tharoor. “Don’t ask permission to fly. Birds don’t need clearance to rise… But in today even a free bird must watch the skies-hawks, vultures, and ‘eagles’ are always hunting. Freedom isn’t free, especially when the predators wear patriotism as feathers,” he said.