Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said he has never violated the Congress party’s stated position in Parliament, asserting that his record reflects consistency and discipline even during moments of internal debate. Speaking at a session during the Kerala Literature Festival, Tharoor addressed questions surrounding recent media reports that pointed to differences between him and the party leadership.
Tharoor said the only instance where he publicly differed in principle was on Operation Sindoor, a position he continues to defend without hesitation. He described his stand as rooted in national security concerns and made it clear that he remains unapologetic about the views he expressed at the time.
Explaining the background, Tharoor said that after the Pahalgam incident, he had written a newspaper column arguing that such attacks should not go unanswered. He had suggested that India should respond with a limited and focused kinetic action, targeting terrorist camps while avoiding being drawn into a prolonged conflict with Pakistan. According to him, the emphasis was always on proportionality and restraint, even while ensuring accountability.
Tharoor noted that the Indian government eventually took steps that closely matched what he had recommended. He said this reinforced his belief that it was possible to balance India’s development priorities with the need to respond firmly to security threats.
His remarks come amid reports suggesting discomfort within the party, including speculation that he was unhappy over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi not sufficiently acknowledging him at a recent event in Kochi and claims that state leaders were attempting to sideline him. Tharoor, however, avoided direct confrontation and focused instead on broader principles.
Emphasising the primacy of national interest, Tharoor invoked former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous question, “Who lives if India dies?” He said that when India’s security, sovereignty, and standing in the world are involved, political considerations must take a back seat.
Tharoor added that differences within political parties are natural and often necessary for the process of building a stronger democracy. However, he stressed that such disagreements should never overshadow the larger national interest. When the country faces challenges related to security and global credibility, unity and clarity of purpose become essential.
The Congress MP concluded by reiterating that while political debate is healthy, there should be no ambiguity when it comes to protecting India’s interests. For him, he said, patriotism and responsibility transcend party lines when the nation is at stake.