‘Can't afford to dwell on them now': What Shashi Tharoor said on speaking to colleagues as Congress critique mounts
In the middle of a diplomatic mission to project India's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor finds himself at the centre of a political storm within his party for praising the Modi government's military strikes in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor. Tharoor's remarks, delivered during his tour of Brazil, Panama, and other nations, expose the divide in the Congress, which has accused the government of bypassing the party in these crucial foreign delegations.
When asked about his party's continuing critique, Tharoor, leading one of the seven Indian delegations sent abroad, told journalists in Brazil, 'I think this is a time now for us to focus on our mission. Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments and criticisms, but I think at this point we can't afford to dwell on them. When we get back to India, no doubt we'll have our chance to speak to our colleagues, critics, media there. But right now we're focused on the countries we're coming to and getting the message out to the people here.'
#WATCH | Brasilia, Brazil: When asked about criticism and questions raised by Congress, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, 'I think this is a time now for us to focus on our mission. Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments and criticisms, but I think at… pic.twitter.com/24bKFJ3dM5
— ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2025
The four-time MP's repeated praise for India's 'precise and calibrated' strikes on terror bases in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir has turned heads, especially as the Congress leadership, feeling increasingly marginalised, had not even recommended his name for the delegation. Congress had suggested leaders like Anand Sharma and Gaurav Gogoi, but the government handpicked Tharoor instead.
His backing and endorsement of India's military response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 has not gone down well with sections of the Congress.
Speaking to the Indian-American community last week in New York, Tharoor said, 'I don't work for the government, as you know. I work for an opposition party. But I myself authored an op-ed in one of India's leading papers, the Indian Express, within a couple of days, saying the time had come to hit hard but hit smart. And I'm pleased to say that's exactly what India did.'
In Panama, Tharoor underlined India's readiness to hit back at terrorism: 'What has changed in recent years is that the terrorists have also realised they will have a price to pay. On that, let there be no doubt.' He pointed to India's past actions, noting, 'We have struck at the Punjabi heartland of Pakistan by hitting terror bases, training centres, terror headquarters in nine places.'
His comments have drawn the ire of Congress colleagues back home. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh labelled the government's decision to include Tharoor and others in the delegations without consultation as 'regrettable' and a sign of 'cheap political games.' 'The INC will not stoop to the pathetic level of the PM and the BJP,' Ramesh had said in a post on X days ago, making it clear that Tharoor's views did not represent the Congress line.
Even party spokesperson Pawan Khera joined the chorus recently, sharing a critical excerpt from Tharoor's book 'The Paradoxical Prime Minister' on social media to mock his current position.
After a long and successful day in Panama, i have to wind up at midnightvhere with departure for Bogota, Colombia in six hours, so I don't really have time for this — but anyway: For those zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour across the LoC: in tge…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 29, 2025
The Thiruvananthapuram MP responded dismissively, posting, 'After a long and successful day in Panama, I have to wind up at midnight here with departure for Bogota, Colombia in six hours, so I don't really have time for this… But anyway: For those zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour… critics and trolls are welcome to distort my views and words as they see fit. I genuinely have better things to do. Goodnight.'
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