Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has found himself at the center of political controversy after he praised India’s counter-terrorism efforts under the Narendra Modi government while on an official trip abroad. His remarks came during a speech in Panama City as part of the Operation Sindoor global outreach initiative — a coordinated diplomatic effort following India's May 7 precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
Tharoor acknowledged the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot air strike, noting a shift in India’s response to terrorism. He stated that India now responds with firm retaliation and stressed the symbolic significance of protecting Indian women’s dignity in the face of terror attacks, invoking the powerful image of sindoor turning the color of blood as a metaphor for justice.
This praise, particularly for Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, led to sharp criticism from within the Congress party:
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Udit Raj, Congress leader, sarcastically called Tharoor a "super spokesperson of the BJP."
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Pawan Khera, party spokesperson, pushed back by highlighting that surgical strikes had also occurred during the UPA era, though without publicity.
In contrast, BJP leader and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju defended Tharoor, criticizing Congress for not supporting its own MPs representing India abroad. Rijiju said all political leaders should “speak in one voice” on national security matters and accused Congress of caring more about politics than the country.
Operation Sindoor was launched after terrorists killed 26 Indian nationals. The Indian government authorized strikes on nine terror camps run by Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba, both UN-designated terrorist organizations, which triggered a four-day military standoff with Pakistan before a ceasefire was agreed upon on May 10.
Tharoor is currently leading one of seven multi-party delegations formed by India to internationally expose Pakistan’s terror networks. His team includes MPs from various parties, such as Tejasvi Surya, Milind Deora, and former ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
The situation underscores the tension between partisan politics and national representation, especially as India navigates sensitive geopolitical messaging on a global stage.
