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Shashi Tharoor has been facing criticism from his party colleagues over his remarks abroad in support of the Centre. He has reacted to a query on swipes by Congress leaders.
Shashi Tharoor has been at the receiving end of Congress’ criticism lately (PTI Image)
Days after party leader Jairam Ramesh’s “our MPs are roaming” remark, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said on Saturday (local time) that he will speak with his colleagues once he returns to India and is currently focusing on conveying India’s message regarding terrorism on global stages.
Tharoor’s remarks came in response to a media query regarding criticism of his remarks abroad by his own party members. The Congress MP is leading one of the seven all-party delegations to several nations, including the US, which is their next stop after their Brazil visit. The government has sent delegations to different parts of the world as part of its global outreach to expose Pakistan and India’s stance on terrorism in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
When asked about the swipes by his party leaders upon his arrival in Brazil, Tharoor said, “I think this is a time now for us to focus on our mission. Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments and criticisms, but I think at this point we can’t afford to dwell on them. When we get back to India, no doubt we’ll have our chance to speak to our colleagues, critics, media there. But right now we’re focused on the countries we’re coming to and getting the message out to the people here.”
#WATCH | Brasilia, Brazil: When asked about criticism and questions raised by Congress, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “I think this is a time now for us to focus on our mission. Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments and criticisms, but I think at… pic.twitter.com/24bKFJ3dM5— ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2025
Last month, while criticising the government, Jairam Ramesh had said, “Our MPs are roaming and terrorists (involved in the Pahalgam terror attack) are also roaming.”
Tharoor’s comments supporting India’s position during the India-Pakistan conflict have drawn appreciation from the ruling side and their supporters, however, they didn’t go down well with many in his own party leaders.
While the Congress had earlier supported the government’s action after the Pahalgam terror attack, it later shifted its tone — asking the government to explain why a ceasefire was agreed to and what role the US played in it.
Tharoor’s support for the government and the decision to make him head of an Indian delegation upset some Congress leaders. Senior party member Jairam Ramesh even said Tharoor’s views did not reflect the Congress party’s official position. Despite this, the government went ahead and picked him for the delegation, even though the Congress didn’t include his name in its own list of suggestions.
Tharoor’s remarks in Panama created another discomfort among Congress, after which the party dubbed him “superspokesperson of the BJP”.
“What has changed in recent years is that the terrorists have also realised they will have a price to pay. On that, let there be no doubt. When, for the first time, India breached the Line of Control between India and Pakistan to conduct a surgical strike on a terror base, a launchpad – the Uri strike in September 2015. That was already something we had not done before,” Tharoor had said in Panama.
“Even during the Kargil War, we had not crossed the Line of Control; in Uri, we did, and then came the attack in Pulwama in January 2019. This time, we crossed not only the Line of Control but also the international border, and we struck the terrorist headquarters in Balakot. This time, we have gone beyond both of those. We have not only gone beyond the Line of Control and the international border. We have struck at the Punjabi heartland of Pakistan by hitting terror bases, training centres, terror headquarters in nine places,” he had noted.
Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes…Read More
Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes… Read More
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