New Delhi: Shashi Tharoor has once again stirred internal tensions within the Congress with remarks seen as supportive of the Modi government’s anti-terror actions. Facing backlash from party colleagues, the senior MP responded curtly, saying critics are free to twist his words—but he has “better things to do.”
The row began after Tharoor, currently on a government-led international outreach following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, praised India’s response to cross-border terrorism. Speaking in Panama City, he highlighted how recent operations had gone beyond previous limits, even crossing the Line of Control and the international border to target terror hubs deep inside Pakistan.
This drew sharp reactions from fellow Congress leaders. Pawan Khera posted a snippet from Tharoor’s own book where he had earlier criticized the political exploitation of the 2016 surgical strikes. Udit Raj went further, accusing Tharoor of echoing BJP narratives and ignoring the past efforts of previous governments. Jairam Ramesh joined in with a pointed poetic jab.
Unfazed, Tharoor posted on X, clarifying that he was referring specifically to retaliatory actions for recent terror attacks, not to past wars. “Critics and trolls are welcome to distort my words. I genuinely have better things to do,” he added, signing off with a weary “goodnight.”
Congress sources say the leadership is not pleased. One insider remarked Tharoor had crossed a “Lakshman Rekha” and reminded leaders to stick to the party line. Though Tharoor maintains his comments were personal, and not in his capacity as a Congress representative, this isn’t his first brush with party disapproval.
In 2022, he contested the Congress presidential poll against Mallikarjun Kharge and has long been viewed as a maverick within party ranks. A former minister and one of the signatories of the G-23 letter calling for internal reforms, Tharoor has often walked a tightrope between personal opinion and party discipline.
Despite the Congress distancing itself from his comments, the government selected Tharoor to lead one of seven delegations abroad. The Congress clarified it had no role in the nomination, while Tharoor said he intends to honor the responsibility.
Meanwhile, the Congress, which initially backed the Centre on the Pahalgam attack, has now shifted tone, asking for transparency on the ceasefire and clarity on the US’s involvement.
