Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 24: Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday asserted that he has never violated the party’s stand in Parliament and said he remains “unapologetic” about his strong position on Operation Sindoor.

Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode, Tharoor said that the only issue where there had been public disagreement on principle was 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 said.

Referring to his April 30, 2025 column in The Indian Express titled After Pahalgam, India must hit back smart, not just hard, Tharoor said he had argued for a calibrated but firm response following the Pahalgam terror attack. He recalled writing that the attack could not go unpunished and that a kinetic response was necessary, while cautioning against a full-scale conflict with Pakistan.

“We are a country focused on development and dependent on external investments. We cannot afford to become a war zone. Therefore, hit only terrorist targets, a finite number of them, and make it clear that India is targeting terrorism, not Pakistan,” Tharoor told the gathering, adding that Pakistan should not be given any excuse for escalation.

Tharoor said he was “astonished and frankly joyful” when the Indian government later acted along the same lines. “How do you expect me to criticise what I myself had recommended? I supported it fully throughout Operation Sindoor and afterwards,” he said.

Addressing reported differences with sections of the Congress leadership after he led an all-party delegation abroad to explain India’s position, Tharoor said national interest must always come first. “When India’s national security and place in the world are involved, India comes first. Political parties are important, but whenever India’s interests are involved, India prevails,” he said.

Following Operation Sindoor last year, Tharoor had headed the Indian delegation to the US, Panama, Guyana, Brazil and Colombia, a move that drew criticism from within the Congress. His inclusion in the delegation had also faced opposition as he was not among the four names suggested by the party to the Centre.

Reacting to Tharoor’s remarks, BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan accused the Congress of being “insecure” and criticised the party for targeting Tharoor for placing national interest above party considerations. In a post on X, Kesavan said the Congress was upset over Tharoor praising the success of Operation Sindoor and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

While Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had extended support to the armed forces, he had also repeatedly criticised the Centre’s handling of Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025.