A fierce war of words erupts in Congress as Shashi Tharoor and Udit Raj clash over praise for Operation Sindoor. The intra-party rift exposes deep divisions, with accusations, clarifications, and threats of disciplinary action flying amid Congress’ struggle to maintain unity during India’s global diplomatic offensive.
India’s diplomatic offensive under Operation Sindoor has drawn global attention to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, especially following the deadly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. However, while the international community lauds the move, serious internal discord has erupted within the Indian National Congress. A heated confrontation between two of its senior leaders—Shashi Tharoor and Udit Raj—has laid bare the party’s ideological fault lines.
The row began after Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram and a noted diplomat, praised the Modi government’s strong retaliation against terrorism. Tharoor’s remarks, which seemed to contrast the current response with the alleged inaction during the previous UPA regimes, drew sharp criticism from within his own party.
Udit Raj, a prominent Dalit leader in Congress, lashed out, branding Tharoor as the “BJP’s super spokesperson” and accusing him of undermining the party’s legacy in defending India’s sovereignty. Raj demanded a public apology from Tharoor, asserting that any attempt to erase Congress’ contributions to national security would not go unanswered.
Tharoor, currently on an international tour to strengthen India’s narrative against terrorism, defended himself from the criticism. He clarified that his comments were strictly about India’s recent reprisal strikes and not a dismissal of the nation’s historical military engagements. “I was clearly and explicitly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars,” Tharoor said, while condemning the accusations as a twisted attempt to push an agenda.
Yet the firestorm continued. Tharoor took to social media to rebuff his critics, saying, “As usual, critics and trolls are welcome to distort my views and words as they see fit. I genuinely have better things to do.” His statement, posted while en route from Panama to Colombia, further intensified the spat.
Udit Raj, undeterred, fired back, accusing Tharoor of hiding behind English jargon and refusing to acknowledge his mistake. He also hinted that disciplinary action might be considered against Tharoor for his repeated praise of the Modi government, which has not sat well with several in the Congress rank and file.
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The situation escalated when Pawan Khera, Chairman of the Congress’ Media and Publicity Department, endorsed Udit Raj’s statement, signaling wider discontent within the party. Many party insiders are reportedly uneasy with Tharoor’s repeated compliments to the ruling BJP, raising concerns about ideological dilution at a time when unity is vital for the opposition.
This intra-party conflict has not only exposed deep rifts within Congress but also raised questions about the party’s direction as it attempts to reassert itself as a national alternative. As India pushes its case globally through Operation Sindoor, the Congress finds itself fighting a battle of narratives within.
