The tension within the Congress party has flared up sharply following Shashi Tharoor’s recent remarks in Panama, where he appeared to credit the Narendra Modi-led BJP government for initiating cross-border surgical strikes. His statements have triggered a wave of internal criticism, reflecting deeper ideological and political fractures within the party as it navigates national security narratives post Operation Sindoor.
What Did Shashi Tharoor Say?
While leading a multi-party Indian parliamentary delegation to Panama, Tharoor said:
“When, for the first time, India breached the Line of Control between India and Pakistan to conduct a surgical strike on a terror base — the Uri strike in 2016 — that marked a change. Terrorists now know they will pay a price.”
He also referred to the 2019 Balakot strike as an even bolder step, highlighting that India crossed the International Border, not just the LoC, in retaliation for the Pulwama terror attack.
Congress Party's Reaction
This has deeply irked the Congress leadership, which sees Tharoor’s comments as:
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Undermining the UPA government’s legacy on national security.
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Providing political cover to the Modi government, especially at a time when Congress is trying to raise concerns over the sudden ceasefire post-Operation Sindoor, claiming that the government is backtracking after initial aggression.
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Contradicting Congress’s official stance, which is that multiple surgical strikes were conducted during the UPA era, but were not made public for strategic reasons.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera responded by posting archival footage of former PM Manmohan Singh, confirming that such strikes occurred under UPA rule, reinforcing the argument that the BJP did not pioneer surgical strikes, only publicized them.
Intra-Party Dissent
The backlash intensified with Congress leader Udit Raj openly attacking Tharoor, saying:
“Shashi Tharoor is doing a better job of praising PM Modi than any BJP leader… He’s become the BJP’s super spokesperson.”
Raj accused Tharoor of boosting the government’s image on national security while dismissing the Congress’s own contributions and diminishing the role of the Army as a non-political institution.
Strategic Concerns for Congress
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The timing of Tharoor’s praise is politically sensitive: Operation Sindoor has renewed debate around India’s military assertiveness against terrorism, and Congress wants to emphasize its own legacy in such actions.
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Congress is also trying to frame the BJP as engaging in chest-thumping nationalism while avoiding long-term strategic accountability — a point weakened by Tharoor’s remarks.
Tharoor’s Track Record
Shashi Tharoor, known for his nuanced and often independent views, has a history of going off-script from the party line. While this has earned him cross-party respect, it also frequently places him at odds with Congress’s central messaging.
His remarks might be seen as a diplomatic gesture in a foreign setting, aimed at showing India’s firm stance on terrorism. However, in the domestic political context, it has inflamed internal divisions and given the BJP a narrative edge.
Summary
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Tharoor’s remarks in Panama praising the 2016 and 2019 surgical strikes by the Modi government have sparked internal revolt within the Congress.
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Party leaders view it as a betrayal of Congress’s record and an unwarranted endorsement of BJP’s handling of national security.
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With tensions already high over Operation Sindoor and its aftermath, the Congress leadership is concerned about losing control of the national security narrative.
This episode could have larger implications for how Congress projects its national security credentials and manages internal ideological diversity in the run-up to future electoral battles.
