Kozhikode (Kerala): Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has strongly defended his record of party loyalty by stating he has “never violated the party’s stated positions in Parliament” despite past tensions over Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival on Saturday, Tharoor addressed lingering criticism, underlining his principled yet disciplined stance on national security matters.
Tharoor, who is Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram, singled out Operation Sindoor – India’s 2025 strikes on Pakistani terror camps following the Pahalgam attack – as his sole public point of “disagreement in principle” with his party’s harsher critique of the government’s handling. He advocated limiting retaliation to terrorist infrastructure, avoiding broader escalation, and noted with that “the Indian government did exactly what I had recommended.” Unapologetic, Tharoor invoked Jawaharlal Nehru: “When India’s security is at stake, India comes first,” prioritizing development over prolonged Pakistan conflict.
The remarks brings to mind the 2025 controversies when Tharoor declined a party invitation to debate Operation Sindoor in Lok Sabha, citing inability to align with Congress’s line blaming intelligence lapses and foreign policy missteps. He had opted for a Ports Bill discussion, instead.
Congress leadership had pushed a narrative questioning the Modi government’s preparedness following the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. Tharoor’s earlier US speeches praised the precision strikes on nine Muzaffarabad bases, restraint in avoiding civilian targets, and de-escalation after Pakistan’s shelling and drone response.
Tharoor’s comments signal ongoing internal party friction on security issues, even as he reaffirmed parliamentary unity. “I remain unapologetic,” he declared, underscoring national interest above partisan lines. The episode highlights his maverick reputation, balancing eloquence with occasional dissent in a polarized opposition landscape.
