New Delhi: Congress MP and senior leader Shashi Tharoor, speaking to reporters on Thursday in Thiruvananthapuram, reiterated his commitment to the party despite internal differences. Tharoor acknowledged that while he holds differing opinions on certain matters, he intends to raise them through appropriate internal discussions rather than in public forums.
“I have been working with the Congress for 16 years. I do have some differences of opinion with the party, and I will raise them inside the party… Today is not the time to talk about it. When the time comes, I will discuss,” Tharoor stated.
The remarks came amid criticism from some Congress leaders over Tharoor’s recent role in leading an all-party delegation to the United States to promote India’s counter-terrorism efforts following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. During the visit, Tharoor expressed strong support for Operation Sindoor and India’s decisive response across the Line of Control (LoC), which he called a “strategic shift.”
“For the first time, India crossed the Line of Control (LoC) to strike a terror base after the 2016 Uri attack. Even during the Kargil War, we did not cross the LoC,” Tharoor had said while addressing the Indian-American community in New York.
His statement was met with disapproval from sections of the Congress. Senior leader Pawan Khera posted an older video of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh referencing surgical strikes under the UPA government. Jairam Ramesh criticised the Modi government for involving opposition leaders like Tharoor in diplomatic delegations, calling it a “cheap political game.” Congress leader Udit Raj sarcastically suggested that Tharoor be appointed as the BJP’s foreign minister.
Responding to the backlash, Tharoor said his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi was solely in the context of the MPs’ delegation and not a political gesture. “When an issue arises for the nation, it is our responsibility to stand with the nation. When the country needs my service, I am always ready,” Tharoor emphasized.
