In his article published in The Hindu on Monday, Tharoor highlighted that Modi’s energy, dynamism, and readiness to engage are essential assets for India on the international front, deserving of stronger support.
His comments were perceived as potentially frustrating for his Congress party and could widen the divide with its leadership.
When asked about the article during an event here, the Thiruvananthapuram MP responded: “It is not a sign of my jumping to join the prime minister’s party (the BJP), as some seem to imply. It is a reflection of national unity, national interest, and standing up for India, which is fundamentally why I returned to India after 25 years of service at the UN.” “I did so to serve India, and I take great pride in that opportunity,” Tharoor continued.
Tharoor explained that the article addressed ‘Operation Sindoor,’ in which he discussed the achievements of the diplomatic outreach initiative.
“People often interpret this in the context of current news. This article describes the success of the outreach mission, which notably showcased the solidarity of all parties regarding vital national interests,” he noted.
“I emphasized that the prime minister has exemplified dynamism and vigor in his engagements with other nations. He has visited more countries than any other prime minister, promoting India’s message globally,” the Congress leader stated.
“In my view, we all supported his efforts by uniting the strength of India’s diverse political parties, backgrounds, communities, and religions to convey to the world the message of a united India. Today, this signifies a stance against terrorism; tomorrow it could address other issues, but I believe this backing is crucial,” he asserted.
Tharoor referred to a phrase often used by Americans, suggesting that political differences should be set aside in matters of national importance, to support his point.
“I, too, have long held that political differences in our democracy should border on non-existence. For us, it seems to me there is no BJP foreign policy or Congress foreign policy; there is simply Indian foreign policy aligned with Indian national interests.” “This is not a novel assertion; I articulated this many years ago, publicly stating it when I first became the chairman of the External Affairs committee back in 2014,” Tharoor remarked.
In his article, he noted that the diplomatic outreach following “Operation Sindoor” marked a moment of national resolve and effective communication.
The Prime Minister’s Office subsequently shared Tharoor’s article on X.
Tharoor wrote: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s energy, dynamism, and willingness to engage remains a prime asset for India on the global stage but deserves greater backing.” “The diplomatic outreach following ‘Operation Sindoor’ was a testament of national resolve and effective communication. It demonstrated that India, when united, can articulate its position with clarity and conviction on international platforms,” stated the Congress leader, who led a multi-party delegation to the US and four other nations to communicate India’s stance after the Pahalgam terror attack and military operation.
Tharoor’s commendation of the prime minister coincides with a period when the Congress party has been persistently criticizing the Modi government for its foreign policy, alleging that Indian diplomacy is being “shattered” and the nation stands “isolated” globally.
Following the Pahalgam attack, Tharoor has been expressing views related to the India-Pakistan conflict and diplomatic outreach that diverge from the Congress’s official stance.
The Congress has been questioning the government regarding US President Donald Trump’s claims about mediating a ceasefire between the two nations.
He has faced criticism from party members and has been the subject of jibes from Congress leaders due to his position.
The delegation led by Tharoor visited the US on the final leg of a multi-nation tour to brief key interlocutors about Operation Sindoor, initiated by India in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that resulted in 26 fatalities.
The delegation was one of seven multi-party groups India appointed to visit 33 global capitals to engage the international community in emphasizing Pakistan’s connections to terrorism.
Last week, while addressing an audience in Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor acknowledged having differing opinions with some party leaders but stated he would refrain from discussing them given the upcoming byelection in Kerala’s Nilambur constituency.
He expressed that the Congress, along with its values and members, holds significant importance to him.
