A fresh storm has broken out inside the Indian National Congress. The reason? Senior leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor is once again at the center of controversy. This time, it is because some party members feel he is speaking more for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) than for the Congress. The situation has become so heated that senior Congress leaders are publicly telling Tharoor to “stop speaking for the BJP!”
What Is Happening?
The trouble began when Shashi Tharoor, who is leading a group of Indian politicians to foreign countries to talk about India’s stand against terrorism, made some comments in Panama. He reportedly said that India crossed the Line of Control (LoC) for the first time during the 2016 surgical strikes on terror camps in Pakistan. Many in the Congress party did not like this statement.
The Congress party has always said that surgical strikes were carried out even when their own government was in power, but those were not made public. Senior Congress leader Udit Raj was especially upset. He called Tharoor a “super spokesperson for the BJP” and said Tharoor’s words hurt the Congress party’s history and achievements. Other Congress leaders also criticized Tharoor, saying he was giving “cover fire” to the BJP government after recent military actions like Operation Sindoor.
Why Are Congress Leaders Angry?
Congress leaders feel that Shashi Tharoor’s statements are helping the BJP by making it seem like the BJP government did something new or special. They believe this ignores the fact that the Congress government also did similar things in the past, but chose not to talk about them for different reasons. Some leaders even posted old statements from other leaders to show that cross-border operations happened before 2016.
Udit Raj and others are worried that Tharoor is praising the Modi government too much and not standing up for the Congress party’s record. They say this is not the first time Tharoor and the party have disagreed. Earlier, Tharoor had praised PM Modi’s US visit and the NDA government’s handling of foreign policy, which also upset some Congress leaders.
Shashi Tharoor’s Response
Shashi Tharoor is not staying quiet. He has replied to his critics, calling them “zealots” and saying he does not have time for their arguments. He explained that his comment about crossing the LoC was only about how India responded to terrorist attacks, not about previous wars. Tharoor said he was talking about how, in recent years, India had shown restraint but changed its approach after the 2016 attack.
Tharoor also pointed out that Udit Raj used to be in the BJP, suggesting he knows what it is like to speak for that party. Tharoor said he is busy with his work and does not want to get into unnecessary fights.
BJP’s Reaction
Interestingly, the BJP has come out in support of Shashi Tharoor. BJP leaders said that Tharoor is being attacked because he is putting India’s interests above party politics. They also said that the Congress is not happy because Tharoor is not always following the party line.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju asked what the Congress expects from its leaders when they go abroad—should they speak against India or its Prime Minister? He said there should be a limit to political fights, especially when it comes to matters of national interest.
What Does This Mean for the Congress Party?
This is not the first time there have been fights inside the Congress party. In recent months, Tharoor and the party leadership have been growing apart. Some people in the party feel that Tharoor is not being given the respect he deserves. Others think that the party is not able to use his talents well.
Former Congress leader Sanjay Jha said that the party had a “huge talent” in Tharoor and should have used him more to present the party’s views to the public. He thinks the party is making a mistake by not listening to voices like Tharoor’s.
From the outside, it looks like the Congress party is facing a tough time. On one side, there are leaders like Shashi Tharoor who sometimes agree with the government on national security and foreign policy. On the other side, there are leaders who want the party to stick to its own story and not give any credit to the BJP.
This kind of disagreement is common in big political parties. When leaders have different views, it can lead to confusion and arguments. But it can also be healthy if it leads to better ideas and stronger policies.
However, when the fights become public and personal, it can make the party look weak or divided. For the Congress, this is a challenge. They need to find a way to let their leaders speak their minds but also keep the party united.
What Can We Learn?
This episode shows how important it is for political parties to have open discussions. Leaders should be able to express their views, but they also need to remember that their words can affect the party’s image.
For the public, it is a reminder to look at what politicians say and do, and not just take sides based on party names. Sometimes, leaders from different parties can agree on important issues, and that is not always a bad thing.
In the end, the real winner should be the country. When leaders put national interest first, it can help India become stronger and more united.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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