Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has stirred controversy within his party after praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to terrorism.
Speaking in Panama City while leading an Indian delegation, Tharoor highlighted India’s strong retaliatory strikes since 2016. His remarks, however, drew sharp criticism from fellow Congress members, revealing the deep political divides even within the party.
Tharoor’s comments focus on a clear message: terrorists targeting India now understand that their attacks will not go unanswered.
He referenced major operations like the Uri surgical strike in 2016 and the Balakot airstrike in 2019, noting how India crossed long-held boundaries like the Line of Control and even struck deep into Pakistani territory. This, he said, marks a shift from decades of suffering terrorist attacks with little direct retaliation.
Tharoor highlighted the pain of past attacks, like the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, where despite clear evidence, justice remained elusive because of Pakistan’s sheltering of terrorists. But now, he said, India is showing a new resolve.
Yet, this praise did not sit well with Congress colleagues. Party leaders quickly reminded Tharoor that his views do not represent the party.
A video was shared by Congress’s Pawan Khera featuring former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh taking credit for surgical strikes during the UPA era, signaling that the party prefers to claim those actions as its own legacy.
Former PM Manmohan Singh : Many Surgical Strikes Conducted Under UPA….
CC @ShashiTharoor https://t.co/dH6FRYS8Ky— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) May 28, 2025
Adding to the drama, Congress MP Udit Raj slammed Tharoor, accusing him of acting as a “super spokesperson” for the BJP and dismissing the government’s actions as publicity stunts.
This infighting illustrates the tension within Congress over how to handle national security discussions without sounding weak or, on the other hand, too aligned with the ruling party.
The bitter irony here is clear: Tharoor, a respected voice on foreign affairs and diplomacy, is caught between his honest assessment of India’s new defense posture and the political need to toe the party line.
#WATCH | Panama City | Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “…Some women cried out The terrorists killed me too, and they said, ‘No, go back, tell what happened to you. We heard, we heard their cries and India decided that the colour of the Sindoor, the vermilion colour on the… pic.twitter.com/VOcr3hq3RO
— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2025
His comments shine a light on a truth many Indians feel—that the Modi government has taken terrorism seriously in ways previous governments hesitated to.
For an India proud of its sovereignty and security, Tharoor’s statements are a breath of fresh air. The debate within Congress only underscores how difficult it is for opposition parties to reconcile patriotism with politics.
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