Thiruvananthapuram: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing "strong protest" over the registering of an FIR against 49 eminent citizens who had raised concerns about the rising mob lynching cases. In his letter dated October 7, the Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram also said those criticising the prime minister should not be considered "anti-nationals".Tharoor urged Modi to take a public stand welcoming dissent and assure the nation of his "commitment to upholding Freedom of Expression even when it involves disagreement with you or your government." India's history as an independent nation would have been a different one if those who dissented under the British Raj had not shown the courage to do so, he said.

"We are deeply disturbed by the FIR filed in Muzaffarpur, Bihar against a group of 49 concerned Indian citizens, who wrote a letter to you, on July 23, 2019, highlighting the rise of mob lynchings in the country," he said in the letter.