Kozhikode, Jan 24: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday clarified that he has always adhered to the party’s stance in Parliament, with his only principled deviation being on Operation Sindhoor. Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival, Tharoor described his position on the matter as firm and unapologetic.
Addressing recent speculation about differences with Congress leadership, including alleged sidelining by state leaders and perceived neglect by Rahul Gandhi, Tharoor stressed that his remarks stemmed from principle rather than political discord.
He explained that, following the Pahalgam incident, he had written a newspaper column advocating a targeted response against terrorist camps, emphasizing that India should avoid a prolonged conflict with Pakistan. To his surprise, the government adopted measures aligned with his recommendations.
Quoting Jawaharlal Nehru, Tharoor remarked, “Who lives if India dies?” emphasizing that national security and India’s global standing take precedence over political differences. He added that while intra-party debates are part of the democratic process, safeguarding India’s interests remains paramount.