‘Trolls Distorting My Views’: Shashi Tharoor Breaks Silence, Slams Criticism From Congress
Indian National Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, currently part of an all-party delegation touring countries across South and North America — including the United States, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia — is raising awareness about the recent Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists.
During the trip, Tharoor faced criticism from within his own party over remarks he made, but initially chose not to respond. However, earlier this morning, he hit back at Congress leader Udit Raj and slammed his critics for "distorting" his views.
Responding to the criticism from Panama, Tharoor broke his silence early this morning with a post on X. "After a long and successful day in Panama, I have to wind up at midnight where 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 the past, I was clearly and explicitly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars," Tharoor clarified.
He further added, "My remarks were preceded by a reference to the several attacks that have taken place in recent years alone, during which previous Indian responses were both restrained and constrained by our responsible respect for the LoC and the IB."
Tharoor concluded his statement by addressing his critics and online trolls,
"But as usual, critics and trolls are welcome to distort my views and words as they see fit. I genuinely have better things to do. Goodnight."
During his address, Shashi Tharoor stated that in recent years, India has taken a stronger stance against terrorism, making it clear that attacks would come at a cost. He highlighted the 2015 Uri surgical strike as the first time India crossed the Line of Control (LoC), something not done even during the Kargil War. He further noted that after the 2019 Pulwama attack, India went beyond the LoC and the international border to strike terror bases in Balakot and deeper into Pakistan’s Punjabi heartland, targeting multiple terror-related sites.
His comments sparked backlash from fellow Congress leader Udit Raj, who publicly rebuked Tharoor and accused him of distorting Congress's legacy in military operations.
Congress leader Udit Raj criticized Shashi Tharoor for allegedly praising the BJP and undermining Congress’s military legacy. He sarcastically remarked that Prime Minister Modi should appoint Tharoor as the BJP's "super spokesperson" or even "foreign minister" before he returns to India. Raj questioned how Tharoor could ignore key historical military actions by Congress-led governments, such as the Indian Army entering Pakistan in 1965, the decisive victory in the 1971 war, and several surgical strikes during the UPA era that were not publicized for political gain. He accused Tharoor of being dishonest to the Congress party, which he said had given him so much.
Udit Raj went further, suggesting that Tharoor should face disciplinary action: "That depends on the working committee, the national president, and Rahul Gandhi. If he makes incorrect statements and tries to erase Congress's history, then I am standing with Congress. I am not worried about personal gain; I am ready to sacrifice myself."
He accused Tharoor of glorifying Prime Minister Modi’s “fake surgical strikes” and said, "He (Tharoor) is trying to malign Congress by saying the party has done nothing. You are glorifying PM Modi's fake surgical strikes. Defending, saying that security lapses happen everywhere, is a crime... The credit that the Army deserves should only go to the Army."
The issue escalated as senior Congress leaders Pawan Khera and Jairam Ramesh appeared to back Raj’s position, further exposing rifts within the party.
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