Published Jan 25, 2026 | 1:35 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 25, 2026 | 1:35 PM
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. Credit: x.com/ShashiTharoor
Synopsis: Shashi Tharoor, speaking at Kerala Literature Festival, dismissed claims of crossing party lines, affirming loyalty to Congress positions. He defended his support for Operation Sindoor as principled, stressing national security over partisanship. Amid speculation of rifts, he stressed internal matters remain private and avoided speaking about his strained ties with leadership.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday, 24 January, firmly rejected suggestions that he had crossed party lines in Parliament, insisting that he had remained consistent with Congress’s stated positions at all times.
Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode, Tharoor said that a close reading of his public record would show no deviation.
“At no stage have I violated any of the party’s positions in Parliament,” he said, adding that the only instance of an open difference on principle related to Operation Sindoor, on which he had taken a “very strong stand”.
Recalling a newspaper column he wrote in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident, Tharoor said he stood by his argument that the attack could not go unanswered.
“I remain unapologetic,” he said, noting that he supported Operation Sindoor both during and after its execution.
Addressing reports of discomfort within Congress over his participation in a government-led international delegation following the operation, Tharoor said national security must take precedence over partisan considerations.
Quoting Jawaharlal Nehru, he remarked: “When India’s security is at stake, India comes first.”
His comments come amid media speculation about strained ties with the party leadership, including claims that he felt sidelined at recent events in Kerala.
Clarifying his absence from a recent Congress meeting, Tharoor said internal concerns were best communicated privately.
“Whatever I have to say will be said within the party,” he said, dismissing public conjecture around a rift.
