NEW DELHI: Congress leader Udit Raj on Thursday claimed that Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor is trying to malign the oldest party by saying that it has done nothing.
Tharoor’s statements at Panama, lauding India’s counterterror strikes, have sparked strong reactions from Congress leader Udit Raj.
Calling the Operation Sindoor "fake," Raj said that Tharoor defended the lack of security that happened at the Pahalgam incident, where 26 people lost their lives.
"Why are you differentiating between my stand and my party's stand? Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera also reposted what I said yesterday..." the Congress leader said while talking to ANI.
The tussle between Congress and Tharoor escalated after the latter lauded India's counter terror strikes. This remarks have upset the top brass in Congress.
Responding to a question, whether Tharoor will be suspended from the party, Raj said, "That depends on the working committee, the national president, and Rahul Gandhi. If he makes incorrect statements and tries to erase Congress's history, then I am standing with Congress. I am not worried about personal gain; I am ready to sacrifice myself. He is trying to malign Congress by saying the party has done nothing. You are glorifying PM Modi's fake surgical strikes. Defending, saying that security lapses happen everywhere, is a crime... You are defending even the office, defending the lack of security. Is this in national interest? Since before and after independence, they were never in national interest. Today it’s all about Modi, Modi — all about the army. Modi Ji is going around wearing a uniform. Like Modi Ji went to fight? The credit of the army, the valour of the army should remain with the army. It should be given to the army."
The row stems from Tharoor's recent remarks at a multi-party delegation meeting in Panama. The Thiruvananthapuram MP specifically referenced the 2016 Surgical Strike and 2019 Balakot airstrike, highlighting these operations as significant examples. These military actions, as he pointed out, showed India's determination to pursue terrorist targets in Pakistan, regardless of the Line of Control or international boundaries.
In his speech, the Congress MP highlighted India's evolving military response to terrorism, noting significant shifts in strategy. He discussed three major counter-terrorism operations that demonstrated India's increasing willingness to strike across borders.
He stated, "What has changed in recent years is that the terrorists have also realised they will have a price to pay; on that, let there be no doubt. When, for the first time, India breached the Line of Control between India and Pakistan to conduct a surgical strike on a terror base, a launch pad - the Uri strike in September 2015. That was already something we had not done before. Even during the Kargil War, we had not crossed the Line of Control; in Uri, we did, and then came the attack in Pulwama in January 2019. This time, we crossed not only the Line of Control but also the international border, and we struck the terrorist headquarters in Balakot. This time, we have gone beyond both of those. We have not only gone beyond the Line of Control and the international border. We have struck at the Punjabi heartland of Pakistan by hitting terror bases, training centres, and terror headquarters in nine places."
Tharoor's remarks emphasised the progression from the initial Uri strike to more extensive operations, culminating in strikes across multiple locations in Pakistan's Punjab region.
Interestingly, BJP came forward and defended Tharoor's statement after Udit Raj criticised him on Wednesday as well for his speech in the Panama city. Earlier Union minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP member Shehzad Poonawala came forwad and defended Tharoor's statement. Rijiju questioned the party's priorities.
Tharoor’s statements at Panama, lauding India’s counterterror strikes, have sparked strong reactions from Congress leader Udit Raj.
Calling the Operation Sindoor "fake," Raj said that Tharoor defended the lack of security that happened at the Pahalgam incident, where 26 people lost their lives.
"Why are you differentiating between my stand and my party's stand? Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera also reposted what I said yesterday..." the Congress leader said while talking to ANI.
The tussle between Congress and Tharoor escalated after the latter lauded India's counter terror strikes. This remarks have upset the top brass in Congress.
#WATCH | Delhi | On his statement on Congress MP Dr Shashi Tharoor, Congress leader Udit Raj says, "Why are you differentiating between my stand and my party's stand? Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera also reposted what I said yesterday..."
— ANI (@ANI) May 29, 2025
On being asked if Dr Tharoor should be… pic.twitter.com/VGVVZiSePJ
Responding to a question, whether Tharoor will be suspended from the party, Raj said, "That depends on the working committee, the national president, and Rahul Gandhi. If he makes incorrect statements and tries to erase Congress's history, then I am standing with Congress. I am not worried about personal gain; I am ready to sacrifice myself. He is trying to malign Congress by saying the party has done nothing. You are glorifying PM Modi's fake surgical strikes. Defending, saying that security lapses happen everywhere, is a crime... You are defending even the office, defending the lack of security. Is this in national interest? Since before and after independence, they were never in national interest. Today it’s all about Modi, Modi — all about the army. Modi Ji is going around wearing a uniform. Like Modi Ji went to fight? The credit of the army, the valour of the army should remain with the army. It should be given to the army."
The row stems from Tharoor's recent remarks at a multi-party delegation meeting in Panama. The Thiruvananthapuram MP specifically referenced the 2016 Surgical Strike and 2019 Balakot airstrike, highlighting these operations as significant examples. These military actions, as he pointed out, showed India's determination to pursue terrorist targets in Pakistan, regardless of the Line of Control or international boundaries.
In his speech, the Congress MP highlighted India's evolving military response to terrorism, noting significant shifts in strategy. He discussed three major counter-terrorism operations that demonstrated India's increasing willingness to strike across borders.
#WATCH | Panama City | Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "What has changed in recent years is that the terrorists have also realised they will have a price to pay, on that, let there be no doubt. When, for the first time, India breached the Line of Control between India and… pic.twitter.com/XxPqyZVy1c
— ANI (@ANI) May 28, 2025
He stated, "What has changed in recent years is that the terrorists have also realised they will have a price to pay; on that, let there be no doubt. When, for the first time, India breached the Line of Control between India and Pakistan to conduct a surgical strike on a terror base, a launch pad - the Uri strike in September 2015. That was already something we had not done before. Even during the Kargil War, we had not crossed the Line of Control; in Uri, we did, and then came the attack in Pulwama in January 2019. This time, we crossed not only the Line of Control but also the international border, and we struck the terrorist headquarters in Balakot. This time, we have gone beyond both of those. We have not only gone beyond the Line of Control and the international border. We have struck at the Punjabi heartland of Pakistan by hitting terror bases, training centres, and terror headquarters in nine places."
Tharoor's remarks emphasised the progression from the initial Uri strike to more extensive operations, culminating in strikes across multiple locations in Pakistan's Punjab region.
What does the Congress party want & How much they really care for the country? Should the Indian MPs go to foreign nation and speak against India and its Prime Minister?
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) May 28, 2025
There’s limit to political desperation! https://t.co/JiuYqpW2tN
Interestingly, BJP came forward and defended Tharoor's statement after Udit Raj criticised him on Wednesday as well for his speech in the Panama city. Earlier Union minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP member Shehzad Poonawala came forwad and defended Tharoor's statement. Rijiju questioned the party's priorities.
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