‘Declare Him BJP Spokesperson’: Congress Slams Shashi Tharoor for Praising PM Modi

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has stirred debate within his party after praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's global presence and leadership, calling his "energy and dynamism" a valuable asset for India.

Tharoor’s remarks came after he led an Operation Sindoor delegation to multiple countries, including the United States, Panama, Guyana, Colombia, and Brazil, as part of India's diplomatic push against terrorism in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.

Writing in The Hindu, Tharoor said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remains a prime asset for India on the global stage, but deserves greater backing.”

Describing Operation Sindoor as a “moment of national resolve,” Tharoor stressed the importance of unity in international representation. “Public diplomacy of this kind can be most effective when we act as one nation. Cutting across party lines, we carried a unified message,” he noted.

Tharoor highlighted a key takeaway from his time in Washington, D.C., stating that Indian concerns about terrorism were clearly acknowledged, even in the presence of Pakistani officials.

“Even as a Pakistani delegation was simultaneously present, we found US representatives, including those who met the Pakistani officials, echoing our concerns and urging decisive action against terror groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed,” he wrote.

However, his comments have sparked a backlash from within his own party. Notably, Tharoor was not among the Congress leaders formally nominated to be part of the Operation Sindoor delegations, and his inclusion had already drawn criticism.

The situation further escalated after Tharoor, during the Panama leg of the tour, reportedly said that India had never crossed the Line of Control before the 2016 surgical strikes. This remark prompted a sharp response from Congress leader Udit Raj.

Taking to X, Udit Raj wrote: “My dear Shashi Tharoor, Alas! I could prevail upon PM Modi to declare you as super spokesperson of BJP, even declaring (you) as foreign minister before landing in India. How could you denigrate the golden history of Congress by saying that before PM Modi, India never crossed LoC and International border.”
The post was later reshared by Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, adding weight to the intra-party criticism.

Responding to the backlash, Tharoor appeared unfazed. Speaking to the media, he said, “Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments, criticisms. But I think at this point, we can't afford to dwell on it. When we get back to India, no doubt we have a chance to speak to our colleagues, critics, and media there.”

The diplomatic outreach under Operation Sindoor saw participation from lawmakers across the political spectrum, who visited 32 countries to assert India's stand on terrorism following heightened tensions with Pakistan. While the mission itself has been praised as a show of national unity, Tharoor’s comments have reignited old frictions within the Congress over its internal positioning and approach to cross-party engagement.

Also Read: ‘Operation Sindoor’ Strikes an Emotional Chord After Pahalgam Attack