On Thursday, Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor reacted sharply to what seemed like attacks from within his party, specifically aimed at Congress leader Udit Raj, for twisting his remarks on India's shifting strategy to counter-terrorism for "vested interests.
Traveling from Panama to Bogota, Colombia, on India's global outreach mission under Operation Sindoor, Thiruvananthapuram MP expressed himself on X (formerly Twitter) to make it clear that his comments were clearly in the context of retaliatory strikes against terrorist attacks, not prior wars.
Earlier, the Congress members, spearheaded by Udit Raj, had been displeased with Tharoor's praise of the Modi government's firm anti-terror policy when he was in Panama. Raj went so far as to call Tharoor the BJP's "super spokesperson.
Avoiding to directly name anyone, Tharoor referred to these internal critics on X and said, "For those zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour across the LoC…. I was clearly and explicitly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars.
He further stated that although "critics and trolls" could misquote his words, he has "better things to do." Tharoor stressed that his remarks came after mentions of a number of terrorist attacks in the past few years, when India's reactions were calibrated, restricted by a dignified manner towards the LoC and the International Border (IB).
The row was sparked after Tharoor, heading a multi-party delegation on the international outreach programme, claimed India's stance on terrorism has gone through a drastic change in the past few years, making it evident to terrorists that there would be repercussions for their actions.
This did not go down well with some of his Congress colleagues who charged him with diluting the party's proud record.
Udit Raj contended that Tharoor must be made the BJP's spokesperson, condemning him for "denigrating the golden history of Congress" by suggesting that before the Modi government, India never left the LoC or foreign borders.
He reminded that "In 1965, Indian Army had entered Pakistan at various points, catching the Pakistanis in the Lahore sector unaware. In 1971, India bifurcated Pakistan, and under the UPA government, a number of surgical strikes were carried out without politicizing them. How could you be so untruthful to the party which provided you with so much?" Raj posted.
Congress leader Pawan Khera also showed backing for Raj's harsh criticism by tweeting his tweet.
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