Facing criticism from within his own party for publicly supporting India's Operation Sindoor, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor clarified
that his remarks were made in a personal capacity. Tharoor, the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, emphasised that his intention was to contribute to the national discourse during a moment of heightened conflict, and that people are entirely free to disagree with his views.
Speaking to reporters, Tharoor stated, “At this time, at a time of conflict, I spoke as an Indian. I never pretended to speak for anyone else. I am not a spokesperson for the party. I am not the government spokesperson. Whatever I have said, you may agree or disagree with that—blame it on me individually, and that’s fine.”
The Congress MP, who has publicly supported the government’s handling of the recent military engagement with Pakistan, said he believed it was important to strongly articulate India’s position internationally, particularly in forums where India’s perspective was being underrepresented.
“I made it very clear that I am expressing my personal views. It was really a contribution to the national discourse, at a time when it was very important for us to rally around the flag, especially internationally. There was a relative lack of our point of view being heard, particularly in the US, Europe, and the Middle East,” Tharoor said. “People are entirely free to reject my point of view. I have received no communication from the party.”
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His remarks come amid discontent within sections of the Congress party, with some leaders reportedly viewing his comments as a breach of internal discipline. According to party sources, Tharoor’s statements during a recent closed-door meeting—especially his endorsement of the Indian air strikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK) as “very, very calculated”—have not been well received by some senior leaders.
One senior Congress figure, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “We are a democratic party and people keep expressing their opinions, but this time, Tharoor has crossed the Lakshman Rekha.”
The Congress party, while critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of US President Donald Trump’s comments on mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, has otherwise maintained a cautious stance on military matters. Tharoor, however, directly challenged the US narrative, calling India’s response a sovereign and calculated act of national defence.
As of now, there has been no official disciplinary action taken against Tharoor, and the Congress leadership has not publicly commented on the matter.
Also Read: Prolonging military conflict not India’s priority: Shashi Tharoor
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