Congress leaders have once again come out against Shashi Tharoor, who is leading an all-party delegation to explain India’s stand on Operation Sindoor and Pakistan-backed terrorism. Congress leaders had previously criticised Tharoor after the union government’s decision to appoint him as the head of one of the seven groups. Although the Congress later changed its position, it is now once again targeting Tharoor. However, this time, the criticism is not about Tharoor’s participation but about his articulation of the country’s interests, which has angered Congress leaders.
Shashi Tharoor’s recent remarks in Panama have sparked discontent within the Congress. Tharoor had stated that the big change in recent years is that terrorists have realised that they will have to pay a heavy price if they attack India. After the Uri terror attack, India crossed the Line of Control for surgical strikes, something that had never happened before. India had not crossed the Line of Control even during the Kargil war. Following the Pulwama terror attack, the army not only crossed the Line of Control but also attacked terrorist camps in Balakot, taking the response further than ever before.
He further added that not only the Line of Control and the international border were crossed in Operation Sindoor, but also terrorist camps in Punjab, Pakistan were destroyed. Although Tharoor’s statements are factually correct, the Congress has accused him of praising the union government.
Congress leader Udit Raj lashed out at Tharoor, calling him the BJP’s super spokesperson. He alleged that Tharoor was being dishonest to his party and claimed that Tharoor is praising Modi more than BJP leaders themselves. Following this, Congress Working Committee member and head of the media and publicity department, Pawan Khera, also criticised Tharoor. Khera’s criticism echoed Tharoor’s own words from his 2018 book, with some suggesting that both leaders are attacking Tharoor with the indirect backing of the Congress leadership.
Responding to the criticism, Tharoor stated that he did not have time for such matters and had many good things to do. He clarified that his comments were strictly about retaliation to terror attacks and not about past wars. Tharoor also wrote in the X post that, as usual, he welcomes critics and trolls to distort his views and words as they see fit.
Earlier, the Jamaat-e-Islami in Kerala had also targeted Tharoor. The group criticised him for participating in the mission despite the Congress’s initial opposition. Additionally, Dawood, the managing editor of Jamaat-e-Islami’s Media One channel, insulted Tharoor for criticising Turkey. On the Islamic radicalisation programme ‘Out of Focus’, he referred to Tharoor as “stupid”, an “epileptic nationalist”, and a “global-cruel citizen”.
Amidst the fierce criticism from Congress leaders, Union Minister Kiran Rijiju has come out in support of Shashi Tharoor. Posting on X, he questioned what the Congress party really wants and how much they care for the country. He asked whether Indian MPs should go to foreign nations and speak against India and its Prime Minister, adding that there is a limit to political desperation.
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