Shashi Tharoor ‘unapologetic’ over Operation Sindoor stand: ‘Didn’t violate Congress line’

“Equally, we are a country focused on development. We do not want to be dragged into a full-on conflict with Pakistan. And I said, we are a country dependent on external investments, and investors don’t like war zones, so we can’t take a step that would turn India into a war zone. Therefore, hit only terrorist targets, finite number of them, and signal very clearly that we, Indians are only targeting terrorism. We are not attacking Pakistan. It’s Pakistan’s inability and unwillingness to curb terrorism that has obliged us to do this. And I said that don’t give Pakistan any further excuse for escalation. This is what I wrote…,” the Congress MP told the gathering.

“You can imagine my astonishment and frankly joy when a few days later, the government of India did exactly what I recommended. How do you expect me to criticize what I myself have recommended, I supported it fully throughout Sindoor and afterwards,” he added.

Commenting on the “differences of opinion” with some in the party leadership after Tharoor led an all-party delegation to foreign countries to explain the Operation, he said, “You can speak to them and find out why… it was Nehruji who asked the very famous questions, Who lives if India dies’. When India’s national security in place in the world is an issue, India comes first. Political parties are important, they are a vehicle to create a better India. We can disagree with each other on ways to do that, but whenever India’s interests are involved, India prevails.”

Days after India launched Operation Sindoor last year, Tharoor had headed the Indian government’s delegation to US, Panama, Guyana, Brazil and Colombia and faced flak from within his party for defending the government’s stance on the issue.

Even the selection of Tharoor as part of the government delegation to spread information in the wake of Operation Sindoor drew fierce opposition from Congress. Tharoor, the chairman of the External Affairs Committee of the Parliament, wasn’t on the list of four names forwarded by the party to the Centre.

BJP reacts, calls Congress ‘insecure’

Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson CR Kesavan was quick to react to Tharoor’s comments at the literature festival, targeting the Congress for its inability to “tolerate that fact that Mr. Tharoor chose to place nation’s interest ahead of Congress Parivaar’s interest”.

Taking to X, Kesavan wrote, “Does INC now stand for Insecure Narcissistic Congress? The deep rooted insecurity of Congress first family seems to be the motive for targeting Shri. Shashi Tharoor.”

Does INC now stand for Insecure Narcissistic Congress ? The deep rooted insecurity of Congress first family seems to be the motive for targeting Shri. Shashi Tharoor. The Congress cannot tolerate that fact that Mr. Tharoor chose to place nation’s interest ahead of Congress… pic.twitter.com/SKyUhO6WqV

— C.R.Kesavan (@crkesavan) January 24, 2026

He added, “The Congress is fuming that he had hailed the remarkable success of #OperationSindoor and had praised PM @narendramodi ji’s stellar leadership & dynamism as a prime asset for India on the global stage.”

Hailing Operation Sindoor, the BJP spokesperson further wrote, “Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi had repeatedly insulted the integrity of our brave Armed Forces during #OperationSindoor and tried to undermine and defame our defence personnel. The factual Tharoor truth bombs seem to have completely cornered pinned down the unprincipled Congress which has always placed the Parivaar’s welfare ahead of our national interest.”

While extending support, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi had, on various occasions, criticised the Centre over its handling of Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025.