Shashi Tharoor Stands Firm on Operation Sindoor, Emphasizes National Security Priority
Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has reaffirmed his unwavering stance on Operation Sindoor, declaring himself "unapologetic" while asserting that his position did not breach his party's parliamentary lines. Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode, Tharoor addressed the controversy surrounding his defense of the government's actions, highlighting the primacy of India's national interests.
Tharoor's Unapologetic Defense of Government Action
Tharoor clarified that he has consistently adhered to the Congress party's positions in Parliament, with the sole exception being Operation Sindoor. "I have at no stage violated any of the Congress's positions in Parliament; the only issue on which there has been public disagreement on principle is about Operation Sindoor where I did take a very strong stand, and I remain unapologetic about that," he stated. He referenced his weekly column in The Indian Express titled 'After Pahalgam, India must hit back smart, not just hard', dated April 30, 2025, where he advocated for a measured kinetic response to terrorism.
Rationale Behind Supporting Operation Sindoor
In his column, Tharoor argued for targeted actions against terrorist elements while avoiding full-scale conflict with Pakistan. "We are a country focused on development. We do not want to be dragged into a full-on conflict with Pakistan. And I said, we are a country dependent on external investments, and investors don't like war zones, so we can't take a step that would turn India into a war zone," he explained. He emphasized that India should strike only terrorist targets, sending a clear message that the actions were directed at terrorism, not Pakistan, thereby preventing escalation.
Tharoor expressed his satisfaction when the government implemented his recommendations. "You can imagine my astonishment and frankly joy when a few days later, the government of India did exactly what I recommended. How do you expect me to criticize what I myself have recommended, I supported it fully throughout Sindoor and afterwards," he added.
Addressing Internal Party Criticism and Foreign Delegation Role
Following India's launch of Operation Sindoor last year, Tharoor led an Indian government delegation to the United States, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia to explain the operation's rationale. This move drew significant criticism from within the Congress party, as he defended the government's stance. The selection of Tharoor for this delegation faced fierce opposition, with the party having forwarded a different list of names to the Centre.
Responding to the internal dissent, Tharoor invoked Jawaharlal Nehru's words, "Who lives if India dies," to underscore his priority. "When India's national security in place in the world is an issue, India comes first. Political parties are important, they are a vehicle to create a better India. We can disagree with each other on ways to do that, but whenever India's interests are involved, India prevails," he asserted, reinforcing his commitment to national security over partisan politics.
Broader Implications for Political Discourse
Tharoor's remarks highlight the ongoing tensions within political parties when national security issues intersect with party lines. His stance underscores a broader debate on how politicians balance loyalty to their party with the demands of safeguarding the country's interests. The episode reflects the complexities of India's political landscape, where figures like Tharoor navigate between ideological consistency and pragmatic responses to critical events.
As the chairman of the External Affairs Committee of Parliament, Tharoor's involvement in foreign delegations adds a layer of diplomatic significance to his actions, suggesting a role that transcends mere party politics in favor of broader national representation.
