Government’s counter-terrorism operations, including the 2016 Uri surgical strike. The clash began after Shashi Tharoor, speaking in Panama, commended India’s shift in response to terrorism, which some Congress colleagues perceived as a deviation from the party’s historical stance. Pawan Khera responded by highlighting Shashi Tharoor’s own earlier criticism of the BJP’s politicization of surgical strikes, drawing attention to a passage from Shashi Tharoor’s 2018 book, The Paradoxical Prime Minister.
Shashi Tharoor’s Comments in Panama Spark Controversy
While leading a multi-party delegation abroad, Shashi Tharoor lauded the 2016 and 2019 strikes as defining moments in India’s fight against terrorism, suggesting such a breach of the Line of Control (LoC) was unprecedented before PM Modi’s tenure. His remark triggered a backlash within his party, particularly from Congress leader Udit Raj who accused him of diminishing Congress’s military record. Udit Raj referenced historical events like India’s offensive in the 1965 and 1971 wars and multiple covert operations under the UPA government, arguing that Congress had conducted such strikes without politicizing them. He mockingly suggested that Tharoor was better suited as a spokesperson or even foreign minister in the BJP.
Pawan Khera Shares Excerpts from Shashi Tharoor’s Book
Pawan Khera responded not through direct confrontation but by recalling Shashi Tharoor’s past stance. On X (formerly Twitter), he shared a quote from The Paradoxical Prime Minister where Shashi Tharoor had sharply criticized the BJP for “shamelessly exploiting” the 2016 surgical strikes for electoral gains. The excerpt underscored Congress’s principle of maintaining discretion and non-partisanship in matters of national security. Pawan Khera reinforced his point by reposting Udit Raj’s criticism and further sharing archival images and media reports to highlight Congress’s history of cross-border military action, including the 1965 Battle of Burki and surgical strikes under the UPA.
The disagreement reflects deeper ideological differences within the Congress over how to frame national security achievements, particularly in an era where the BJP aggressively claims credit for military actions. The episode has reignited discussions over party unity, messaging, and the balance between acknowledging strategic success and opposing political narratives set by rivals.
