Kozhikode: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday, January 24, said he has never violated the party’s stated positions in Parliament and asserted that his only public disagreement in-principle was over Operation Sindoor.
Answering questions during a session at the Kerala Literature Festival here, Tharoor said he had taken a strong stand on that issue and remained “unapologetic”.
His statement comes amid reports claiming he had differences with the party leadership, with speculation that he is upset over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi not adequately acknowledging his presence at a recent event in Kochi and over alleged repeated attempts by state leaders to sideline him.
Explaining his position, Tharoor said that as an observer, commentator and writer, he had written a newspaper column after the Pahalgam terror attack, stating that it should not go unpunished and that there should be a kinetic response.
He said that while India is focused on development, it should not be dragged into a prolonged conflict with Pakistan, and that any action should be limited to targeting terrorist camps.
Tharoor said that to his surprise, the Indian government did exactly what he had recommended.
“How could I be expected to criticise it when I myself recommended it. I supported it fully throughout Operation Sindoor and afterwards,” he said.
When the government sent him abroad as part of a multi-party delegation over Operation Sindoor, his party, for some reason, did not like it.
“You can speak to them and find out,” he said
Tharoor said it was Jawaharlal Nehru who posed the famous question: “Who lives if India dies.”
“When India is at stake, when India’s security and its place in the world are involved, India comes first,” he said.
He added that political parties may have differences as part of the process of building a better India, but when national interests are involved, India must prevail.
Terrorists had gunned down 26 people, mostly tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in April 2025, sending shockwaves across the country. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a precision military offensive targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan.
Later, speaking to reporters, Tharoor said he had informed the party leadership about his inability to attend a party meeting.
He said that some reports about him might be true, while others could be false.
Tharoor explained that he wanted to attend a literature festival and that continuous travel was difficult.
“However, I will certainly attend all party activities in Parliament, and at that time I can meet the party leadership,” he said.
He added that matters meant to be discussed within the party should be done internally and not through the media.
Responding to a question on alleged unfair treatment at a party event in Kochi, Tharoor said he would not comment on it.
He also said that he wanted to exhibit his book on Sree Narayana Guru at the literature festival.
Recalling an earlier instance, he said he had once been unable to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival due to a political engagement.
