‘Not leaping to join BJP’: Shashi Tharoor on his Operation Sindoor article; clarifies rumours | India News
NEW DELHI: Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday clarified that his recent article praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic efforts under Operation Sindoor should not be misconstrued as an indication of his “leaping to join” the BJP. The Thiruvananthapuram MP stressed that his remarks were rooted in national unity, the country’s interests, and a commitment to stand up for India.“It is not a sign of my leaping to join the Prime Minister’s party (the BJP) as some people unfortunately have been implying,” Tharoor said when asked about the article during an event. “It is a statement of national unity, of national interest and of standing up for India, which to my mind is fundamentally why I came back to India after 25 years of service at the UN. I did so to serve India, and I am very proud to have the opportunity to do so,” Tharoor told news agency PTI.His comments followed the publication of his article in The Hindu on Monday, where he wrote that Modi’s “energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remains a prime asset for India on the global stage but deserves greater backing.” The Prime Minister’s Office later shared Tharoor’s piece on X.The article sparked speculation about Tharoor’s growing distance from the Congress leadership, especially as it came at a time when the party has been strongly critical of the Modi government’s foreign policy, accusing it of isolating India on the world stage.Tharoor, however, dismissed any such political motives behind his writing. The Lok Sabha MP claimed that the article was focused on Operation Sindoor and the successful diplomatic outreach that followed. “People always tend to see all this in the context of today’s news. It is an article in which I describe the success of this outreach mission, which, amongst other things, showcased the unity of all parties behind the matter of vital national interest,” he said.“So, I said the prime minister himself has demonstrated dynamism and energy in engaging with other countries. He has travelled to more countries than any prime minister, and done so in order to take the message of India around the world,” Tharoor added.Reflecting on the importance of cross-party solidarity, Tharoor said, “And to my mind, what we all did was give his efforts that back up by bringing to bear the strength of all of India’s different political parties, backgrounds, groups, religions, and convey to the world that message that a united India stands for. Today it is a message against terrorism, tomorrow it could be a message on something else, but that backing up, I believe, is very important.”He invoked a familiar American saying to reinforce his point: “I, too, have believed for the longest time that political differences in our democracy should stop at the borders. For us, it seems to me there is really no such thing as a BJP foreign policy or a Congress foreign policy, there is only Indian foreign policy and Indian national interest.”“I am not saying something new, I said this very many years ago, and I said this publicly, on the record, the very first time when I became the chairman of the external affairs committee back in 2014,” he recalled.In his article, Tharoor described the post-Operation Sindoor diplomatic outreach as “a moment of national resolve and effective communication.” He noted, “It affirmed that India, when united, can project its voice with clarity and conviction on international platforms.”Tharoor led a multi-party delegation to the United States and four other countries following the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent military operation, aiming to convey India’s position to the international community.His recent comments and writings have drawn attention as they diverge from the Congress party’s consistent attacks on the Modi government’s foreign policy, particularly over US President Donald Trump’s claims of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Tharoor’s stance on India-Pakistan relations and the diplomatic outreach following the Pahalgam attack has often sparked criticism and occasional jibes from within his own party.
