Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has once again garnered political attention by praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, who also happens to be the opponent party BJP’s leader, on the global stage, calling his energy, dynamism, and diplomatic engagement “a prime asset for India.” Tharoor’s remarks came in a news article where he talked about India’s diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, a coordinated campaign that saw multi-party delegations visit 32 countries in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack.
He has now hailed the outreach as a moment of “national resolve and effective communication.” He argued that when India speaks with one voice, it commands clarity and conviction internationally. His endorsement of the Prime Minister’s foreign policy approach has been seen as a provocative stance, especially amid the Congress party’s ongoing criticism of the Modi government’s handling of international relations.
Tharoor, was recently in the limelight after his son, Ishaan Tharoor, who is the global affairs columnist with the Washington Post, asked Shashi a very peculiar question, when he was representing India in the United States, while leading a multi-party delegation on Operation Sindoor. Ishaan asked whether any country asked for evidence about Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam terror attack to which he said “Very simply, no one had any doubt, and we were not asked for evidence,” he said.
Tharoor’s latest comment comes at a very critical time when his own party, the Congress, has accused the Modi government of isolating India on the global stage and undermining diplomatic ties and Tharoor’s statement, on the other hand, directly contradicts the party’s accusations. He wrote that India’s carefully measured military response to the April 22 attack was well understood, absorbed and supported abroad. He also highlighted that even in Washington, where Pakistani officials were also present, the American representatives echoed India’s concerns and called for decisive action against terrorism.
Tharoor’s article has caused a stir not only because of its content but also because of who is speaking. A senior Congress leader, four-time Lok Sabha MP, and former UN diplomat, Tharoor has long had a strained relationship with his party’s leadership. His repeated public admiration for Prime Minister Modi has led to speculation about a potential defection—rumors he has consistently denied. Still, his selection to lead one of the most high-profile delegations and his willingness to go against the party line have only fueled speculation of a political realignment.
Adding more momentum to the controversy, the Prime Minister’s Office amplified Tharoor’s remarks by sharing the article on social media. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also weighed in, claiming that Tharoor’s statements undermined Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s position and validated the BJP’s global diplomatic strategy. “Shashi Tharoor exposes Rahul Gandhi,” Bhandari posted on X, underscoring the political firestorm ignited by the article.
Despite the backlash, Tharoor has insisted that he remains committed to the Congress and its ideology. Speaking to NDTV last week, he acknowledged having differences of opinion with some party leaders but dismissed talk of a switch to the BJP. “I have been loyal to the Congress and its values for 16 years,” he said.
As the Congress navigates an already delicate internal dynamic, Tharoor’s praise of the Prime Minister has added a fresh layer of complexity—raising questions about the boundaries of dissent within political parties, and how individual voices like his, may shape India’s foreign policy narrative going forward.