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Congress MP Shashi Tharoor clarifies he has not deviated from the party line, stressing internal issues should be discussed privately. He also reiterates his support for Operation Sindoor and defends his decision to attend literary events.
Shashi Tharoor Denies Deviating from Congress Policies
New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday, January 24, 2026, addressed reports claiming differences with his party leadership. He emphasized that he has always adhered to Congress’s stated positions in Parliament and believes that any disagreements should be discussed internally rather than aired in the media.
Tharoor stated, “All I can say is that there are issues which I need to take up with my own party leadership and not in a public forum… I will get an opportunity in Delhi during Parliament to make my concerns very clear to the party leadership and have a proper conversation.”
He highlighted his long-standing commitment to the Congress party, saying he has been a member for 17 years and that any issues will be addressed through the appropriate internal channels.
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Tharoor also addressed reports regarding his absence from a recent party meeting, explaining that he had informed the Congress leadership about his unavailability. He cited continuous travel and prior commitments, including attending a literature festival and presenting his book on Sree Narayana Guru, as reasons for missing certain events.
He reassured that he will participate fully in all parliamentary party activities and take the opportunity to meet party leadership during these engagements. Tharoor stressed that matters meant for internal discussion should remain within the party and not be used as media speculation.
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Regarding reports of alleged sidelining at a Congress event in Kochi, Tharoor refrained from commenting publicly. He indicated that some reports might be true while others could be false, emphasizing the importance of addressing issues through proper internal channels rather than media narratives.
Tharoor also recalled his position on Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, where terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists. As an observer and writer, he had recommended a precise and limited military response targeting terror camps in Pakistan. He fully supported the government’s actions, expressing surprise that some within his party opposed it despite his prior recommendation.
He stated, “How could I be expected to criticise it when I myself recommended it. I supported it fully throughout Operation Sindoor and afterwards.” Tharoor underscored the principle that national interest must come first, even when political parties have internal differences.
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Drawing from Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous question, “Who lives if India dies?” Tharoor highlighted that while political parties may have disagreements in the process of building a stronger nation, India’s security and international standing must always prevail over partisan concerns.
