Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has also welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's international outreach and diplomatic efforts, calling his "energy, dynamism, and willingness to engage" with global partners India's strategic asset on the global level.
Tharoor, who headed the BJP government's anti-terrorism diplomatic mission to the United States, Brazil, and three other nations last month after Operation Sindoor, said this in a Monday op-ed for The Hindu (behind a paywall).
The outreach mission involved seven multi-party delegations of Indian MPs visiting 32 countries, including members of the EU, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the US, to galvanize international opinion against cross-border terrorism.
Characterizing the drive as "a moment of national resolve and good communication," Tharoor described how it showed India, when its people are united, can make itself heard with clear and firm conviction.
The delegations were mandated with the transmission of the tone of India's military action against the Pahalgam terror attack and the emphasis of Pakistan's continued engagement in patronizing terrorism. Tharoor opined that even during U.S. meetings — where Pakistan had a delegation present as well — India's messaging resonated.
"While a Pakistani delegation was present at the same time, we discovered US representatives. repeating our own concerns and calling for firm action against terror outfits. our facts-based and persistent arguments were underlining the reasonableness of India's stand," he penned.
Tharoor went out of his way to stress that the outreach sought to "build global consensus to hold perpetrators accountable," presenting it as a diplomatic success on the international stage.
The visit involved a dozen opposition leaders, including Tharoor himself, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, and DMK's Kanimozhi. Tharoor's elevation—particularly as leader of the high-profile Washington delegation—aroused tensions within his own party.
His induction stoked old rumors of his relationship with the leadership of the Congress, especially in light of previous episodes where Tharoor had publicly praised Prime Minister Modi. There were renewed rumors of a possible political realignment, with members of his party accusing him of being a "super spokesperson" for the BJP and engaging in "publicity stunts.
However, Tharoor has repeatedly refuted suggestions of quitting the Congress. During his interview with NDTV last week, he reaffirmed his allegiance to the party's ideology and stated:
"I have been loyal to the party and its ideology for the last 16 years."
He also brushed aside internal differences as nothing more than "differences of opinion. with only some elements of leadership."
Though the Congress is still publicly hesitant about Tharoor's commendation of the Prime Minister, the Thiruvananthapuram MP continues to tread a fine line between party commitment and bipartisan diplomacy.
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