CHENNAI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday clarified that he has never violated the party’s official position in Parliament, asserting that his only public disagreement in principle related to Operation Sindoor, on which he led India’s delegation to countries in the Americas to present New Delhi’s stance on counterterrorism and Pakistan’s role in terrorism.
Tharoor’s clarification, made while speaking at the Kerala Literature Festival in Kozhikode on Saturday, comes amid renewed political scrutiny of his public statements and diplomatic engagements, particularly those undertaken while representing India abroad. Emphasising his long parliamentary record, the senior Congress leader said his conduct in the House has consistently reflected the party’s line and collective decision-making, PTI reported on Saturday.
Referring to Operation Sindoor, Tharoor explained that his difference was not one of partisan defiance but of principle, shaped by the responsibilities of leading an official Indian delegation overseas. The mission, which focused on building international consensus against terrorism and highlighting Pakistan’s role in sponsoring extremist activities, required clear articulation of India’s national position to foreign governments and institutions.
In his remarks, Tharoor underscored that representing India’s interests on global platforms transcends party politics. He suggested that while domestic political debate is legitimate, international diplomacy demands coherence, credibility and a unified national voice, particularly on sensitive issues such as terrorism.
The episode once again highlights the delicate balance senior opposition leaders often navigate when entrusted with international responsibilities by the government of the day. For the Congress, Tharoor’s statement appears aimed at drawing a firm line between parliamentary dissent and national representation, reinforcing that disagreement, when it occurs, must be understood within context.
From a broader political perspective, Tharoor’s clarification reflects the evolving role of experienced parliamentarians in India’s foreign outreach. As India increasingly deploys cross-party figures to communicate its global positions, tensions between party ideology and national diplomacy are likely to surface. His defence seeks to position such moments not as breaches of party discipline, but as expressions of institutional responsibility in service of the national interest.
