Congress MP Shashi Tharoor’s decision to lead a government-nominated international delegation has intensified internal discord within his party, following his public defence of the Modi administration’s handling of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Tharoor is among 59 Members of Parliament selected by the central government to head all-party delegations to global capitals as part of “Operation Sindoor,” a diplomatic initiative aimed at countering Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. His inclusion, despite not being on the Congress’s recommended list, has sparked criticism from party leaders who view his acceptance as a deviation from the party line.
The Congress party expressed strong dissatisfaction with the government’s decision to appoint Tharoor, accusing it of disregarding the party’s suggested representatives for the delegations. This move has highlighted a rift between the party and the central government regarding representation in international outreach efforts.
Tharoor’s recent comments on the Pahalgam attack further strained relations within the Congress. He defended the government’s response, stating that no country possesses foolproof intelligence and drawing parallels with Israel’s experience during the Hamas attack. These remarks were seen by some party members as aligning too closely with the ruling party’s narrative.
Congress leader Udit Raj publicly criticized Tharoor, questioning his allegiance and suggesting he was acting as a spokesperson for the BJP. Raj challenged Tharoor’s comparison of the attack to intelligence failures in other countries, implying that such statements undermined the party’s stance.
In response to the criticism, Tharoor denied receiving any formal warning from the Congress party regarding his comments. He emphasized that his statements reflected his personal views and were intended to contribute to national discourse during a critical time.
The Congress Working Committee had earlier blamed “security lapses and intelligence failures” for the Pahalgam attack, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians. Tharoor’s contrasting perspective, emphasizing the challenges of intelligence gathering, was perceived by some as undermining the party’s position.
