Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his diplomatic leadership and global outreach after India's military action in Operation Sindoor. Tharoor, who led a cross-party delegation to the United States, Brazil, and three other countries, wrote in The Hindu that Modi’s “energy, dynamism and willingness to engage (with other countries)” is “a prime asset for India on the global stage.”

In his article, Tharoor explained how seven parliamentary delegations—including leaders from opposition parties—visited 32 countries, such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the European Union, to build global support after the terror attack in Pahalgam. These delegations aimed to explain India’s “calibrated and measured” military response and highlight Pakistan’s ongoing support for terror groups.

“This was a moment of national resolve and effective communication and affirmed that India, when united, can project its voice with clarity and conviction...” Tharoor wrote. He also mentioned that even though a Pakistani delegation was in the US at the same time, American officials “echoed our concerns and urged decisive action against terror groups”.

Congress MP faces criticism for praising PM Modi

Tharoor’s praise for the Prime Minister has increased tensions with his own party, the Congress, where some leaders accused him of supporting the BJP’s narrative. His appointment as the leader of the US-bound delegation, considered the most important, sparked criticism from some Congress members, who called him a “super spokesperson” for the BJP’s publicity stunts.

There have also been rumours about Tharoor possibly leaving Congress and joining the BJP. However, he denied this again last week in an interview with NDTV. “I could not swap the Congress for the BJP,” he said. When asked about his relationship with the Congress party, Tharoor replied, “I have been loyal to the party and its ideology for the last 16 years.”

Tharoor also addressed his differences with some party leaders, saying these were only “differences of opinion... with only some elements of leadership”. Despite the political heat, he praised the diplomatic outreach as a success and said it helped India “build global consensus to hold perpetrators accountable”.

Tharoor’s active role in the outreach programme and his balanced tone on foreign policy continue to keep him in the political spotlight.

You might also be interested in: India assures no fuel shortage amid Israel-Iran conflict, says Minister Hardeep Singh Puri