Shashi Tharoor's Inclusion in Anti-Terror Delegation Stirs Congress Discontent

The Narendra Modi government's move to send multi-party delegations overseas to create awareness regarding Pakistan-backed terrorism has set off a new controversy between the Centre and the Congress party.

Although the Congress had not sent Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor's name for the delegation, the government proceeded and included him among the seven leaders of the delegation.

Tharoor thanked on Twitter, saying, "I am grateful to the government of India for inviting me to head an all-party delegation to five important capitals, to represent our country's perspective about recent developments. When national interest is at stake, and my services are sought, I will never be found wanting. Jai Hind!

Congress' next step is not clear as these delegations are ready to travel abroad to bring the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism—a cause for which there has been country-wide consensus.".

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju presented seven delegation leaders with unity focus: "At times when it matters the most, Bharat remains united. Seven All-Party Delegations will be visiting important partner countries shortly, taking along our joint message of zero-tolerance to terrorism. A strong testimony to national unity transcending politics, despite differences." Rijiju's Friday 9:28 a.m. tweet named Tharoor among six other leaders.

But at 10:09 a.m., Congress Chief Spokesperson Jairam Ramesh tweeted a different message: "Yesterday morning, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju met the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The INC was requested to send names of 4 MPs for the delegations to be dispatched overseas to present India's position on terror emanating from Pakistan."

He further clarified the official list submitted by the Congress on May 16: “By noon yesterday May 16th, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha wrote to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs giving the following names on behalf of the INC. 1. Shri Anand Sharma, former Union Cabinet Minister 2. Shri Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader, INC LS 3. Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, MP, RS 4. ⁠Shri Raja Brar, MP, LS.” This tweet indicated that Tharoor’s inclusion was not sanctioned by the party.

When asked to comment on the matter later, Ramesh confirmed that Congress would maintain the initial list of nominees and dismissed any immediate action being taken against Tharoor, describing such speculation as "too far-fetched at this moment." The dispute indicates an increasing rift between the Congress party and working committee member Tharoor, which was apparent over the past few months. On various security and diplomatic issues, such as the Pahalgam terror attack, Tharoor's opinions have also frequently differed from that of Congress's official stance, often coinciding with the Union government's point of view. Two weeks ago, the party had also put a gag order in place, stating that views of the Opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and a few sanctioned representatives, were to be considered the party's official stand.

Tharoor had retorted that he speaks as an Indian citizen and not as a representative of any political party.

Sources indicated that Rijiju had personally asked Kharge to nominate delegates, but Kharge's office made independent approaches to senior Congress leaders such as Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma, Salman Khurshid, and Tharoor.

A government-proposed senior leader said to Hindustan Times that, "These are matters of national interest and there are no party whips over joining a delegation."Another senior Congress leader clarified that when Kharge met Rahul Gandhi to discuss the government's proposal to offer names for the delegation nominees, Gandhi at first demanded the party must choose its representatives on its own instead of being run according to the government's proposed names.