New Delhi [India]: Amid ongoing global outreach efforts, internal rifts within the Congress party surfaced on Wednesday as senior leader Udit Raj launched a scathing attack on Shashi Tharoor, accusing the Thiruvananthapuram MP of echoing BJP talking points and undermining Congress’s legacy.
Tharoor, who is currently leading a multi-party delegation to Latin America and the United States, sparked controversy with remarks made in Panama, where he credited recent Indian governments with a stronger military response to cross-border terrorism, citing the 2016 surgical strikes and 2019 Balakot airstrike.
“What has changed in recent years is that terrorists have realised they will pay a price,” Tharoor said.
“We crossed the Line of Control in 2016 (Uri strike), and in 2019, after Pulwama, we crossed the international border to hit Balakot. We struck terror bases in the heartland of Pakistan,” he added.
Udit Raj Accuses Tharoor of Endorsing BJP Narrative
Reacting sharply, Udit Raj accused Tharoor of acting as a “super spokesperson for the BJP” and denigrating the Congress’s military legacy.
“Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is saying what even BJP leaders hesitate to say. He is singing praises of PM Modi’s government while ignoring Congress’s historic achievements,” Udit Raj told ANI.
He further alleged that Tharoor’s comments whitewashed past Congress-led governments’ actions, including the 1965 and 1971 wars and covert military operations under UPA.
In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), Udit Raj wrote:
“How could you denigrate the golden history of Congress? In 1965, Indian forces entered Pakistan; in 1971, we split Pakistan into two. During UPA, several surgical strikes took place — just not politicised. How can you be so dishonest to the party that gave you so much?”
Tharoor Not Among Official Congress Nominations
Interestingly, Tharoor was not among the official names suggested by the Congress party for the government’s multi-nation outreach delegation. His inclusion reportedly came via external channels, raising questions within party ranks about internal coordination and representation.
Tharoor has yet to publicly respond to Udit Raj’s remarks.
Political Fallout and Strategic Concerns
The episode exposes deeper fault lines within the Congress party, already grappling with image issues and leadership coherence ahead of key elections. Tharoor’s remarks, while made on foreign soil, have sparked debate about party unity, narrative control, and the Congress’s positioning on national security.
Party insiders suggest that such public disagreements could dilute the opposition’s stance on the BJP’s handling of national security, a core electoral issue in recent years.