Senior Congress leader and MP from Thiruvananthapuram, Shashi Tharoor, has finally spoken out about his alleged rift with the Congress high command following his public praise of the Narendra Modi-led government for Operation Sindoor. Addressing a gathering in Kochi on Saturday, Tharoor emphasized that national security must always take precedence over party politics.
Responding to a student’s question about his relationship with the Congress leadership, Tharoor clarified, “We have certain values and convictions that keep us in our parties, but we need to cooperate with other parties in the interest of national security.” While not naming the Congress directly, he added, “Sometimes parties feel that is disloyal to them. But to my mind, the nation comes first. Parties are merely vehicles to serve the country.”
Tharoor’s comments come amid growing tension within the Congress after he was chosen to head an all-party delegation on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to cross-border aggression following the Pahalgam terror attack.
He later posted a clip of his interaction on X (formerly Twitter) with the caption, “In Kochi today, I was asked an inevitable question by a high school student… I felt a student deserved a response.”
Referring to criticism from within his party, Tharoor said, “I’ve supported our armed forces and the government in recent matters concerning our national borders. I will stand my ground because this is the right thing for the country. When I speak of India, I speak for all Indians, not just for those who support my party.”
Invoking Jawaharlal Nehru, he quoted, “Who lives if India dies?”, urging leaders across political lines to set aside differences when the nation is at risk.
The rift widened further after Tharoor wrote an article in The Hindu, commending PM Modi’s “dynamism and energy” as being beneficial to India’s global influence. The article was later reshared by the Prime Minister’s Office, adding fuel to speculation over Tharoor’s political positioning.
Despite the growing divide, Tharoor has not indicated any intention to leave the Congress, but his remarks have clearly highlighted the ideological conflict brewing within the party ranks over how to approach national security issues in a politically polarized environment.
