Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a strong message to those who metaphorically removed the sindoor from the foreheads of the country’s women, symbolising an attack on India’s dignity and sovereignty. He reiterated that Operation Sindoor was a necessary response to terrorism. The terrorists had dared us, saying, ‘Go and tell us what happened to you.’ Now, it is clear what India’s reply to terrorism is, Tharoor said.
Tharoor made these remarks while addressing lawmakers in Panama, including the President of the National Assembly, Dana Castaneda. He is currently leading a parliamentary delegation as part of the global outreach mission linked to Operation Sindoor.
Speaking on the unity displayed by Indian leaders across political lines, Tharoor emphasised that despite their varied political affiliations, all stood together in the national interest. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 after patiently waiting for Pakistan to act against those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. We did not seek war, but we could not allow an act of terror to go unanswered, he stated.
Tharoor called upon the Panamanian government to support India’s efforts in identifying and prosecuting terrorists. India cannot silently suffer pain, injuries, and loss. Since the 1989 Kashmir attacks, our country has endured numerous terrorist incidents targeting innocent civilians. But now the perpetrators understand, they will pay the price, he said.
Reflecting on India’s evolving counter-terrorism posture, Tharoor noted that India crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for the first time during the Uri attack in 2015. Not even during the Kargil war did we cross it. In Uri, we did. And this time, we have gone further, crossing not only the LoC but the international border as well. He highlighted the strikes on nine terror and training camps, including those in Balakot, marking a significant escalation in India’s strategic response.
The MP was accompanied by a delegation comprising fellow parliamentarians Sarfaraz Ahmed, G M Harish Balayogi, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejaswi Surya, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Mallikarjun Devda, Milind Deora, and former US Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
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