Thiruvananthapuram. Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday clarified that there is no change in his stand on “Operation Sindoor”. He denied any remorse for expressing his opinion in Parliament and also denied that he had taken any step against the party line. Speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF) held in Kozhikode, Tharoor said that throughout his parliamentary career he never took any position contrary to the official stand of the Congress. However, he also clarified that their difference of opinion regarding Operation Sindoor was ‘principled’, which he described as a matter of national security and not party politics. Tharoor’s comments come at a time when there was speculation about differences between him and the party leadership, especially after his absence from an important Congress meeting in Delhi.
Speaking on this broader discussion, Tharoor said that decisions on issues related to national security should be taken with clarity, responsibility and a sense of national interest.
Referring to an article he wrote after the Pahalgam terror attack, Tharoor reiterated that such attacks should not be left unanswered and India has the right to take strong action. Also, he advised to avoid getting embroiled in a prolonged conflict with Pakistan.
Tharoor said India should remain focused on development and take limited and targeted military action against terrorist bases while avoiding long-term military confrontation. He also said that the stand subsequently adopted by the government vindicated the gist of his argument.
Tharoor said that when the country’s security and its reputation on the international stage are at stake, then national interest should be kept paramount.
Refusing to comment on the controversy over his absence from the Delhi meeting, Tharoor said internal party matters should not be discussed in public forums. “This is a literary festival, not a platform for political announcements,” he said. He said any concerns would be raised directly with the party leadership at the appropriate forum.
He acknowledged the ongoing media speculation, saying that some reports may be true and some not, but he had already informed the party leadership and would not provide any clarification publicly.
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