Shashi Tharoor Denies Rift With Congress

MP says he never broke party line, stands firm on Operation Sindoor view

January 24, 2026: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said he has never violated the Congress party’s stated positions in Parliament, asserting that his only public disagreement in principle was over Operation Sindoor. Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode, Tharoor said he had taken a strong stand on the issue and remained “unapologetic,” amid speculation about differences between him and the party leadership.

Responding to questions on reports suggesting he was being sidelined within the party, Tharoor explained that as a writer and observer, he had penned a newspaper column after the Pahalgam incident, arguing that the attack should not go unpunished and that India should respond with limited kinetic action. He clarified that while India should avoid being drawn into a prolonged conflict with Pakistan, it was important to target terrorist camps decisively.

Tharoor noted that the Indian government eventually acted along the lines he had suggested, expressing surprise at the alignment. Quoting Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous words, “Who lives if India dies?”, he stressed that national security and India’s global standing must always come first. While political parties may differ on issues, he said, national interest must prevail above all else.