Tharoor Refuses to Criticize India’s Military Response, Skips Party Role in 16-Hour Parliamentary Showdown
Tharoor Opts Out of Congress Plan for Op Sindoor Debate
Senior Congress leader and MP Shashi Tharoor has reportedly refused to follow the party line during the critical parliamentary debate on Operation Sindoor — India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack. Sources revealed that Tharoor declined a request from Rahul Gandhi’s office to lead the Opposition’s charge against the ruling BJP.
Why Tharoor Refused to Toe the Line
Tharoor, who has previously supported Operation Sindoor, maintained his stance and said he could not reverse his position for the sake of political messaging.
- He was approached to criticize the BJP during the 16-hour debate.
- The discussion covered the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, India’s military retaliation, and a nearly 100-hour standoff with Pakistan.
- Sources close to Tharoor stated he refused to call the operation a failure, standing by his earlier comments that praised India’s response.
Congress Reacts, Excludes Tharoor From Speaker List
After Tharoor’s refusal, the Congress decided he would not participate in the debate. Instead, other senior leaders will represent the party’s stance.
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition, will speak.
- Other speakers include Gaurav Gogoi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Deepender Hooda, Parineeti Shinde, Shafi Parambil, Manickam Tagore, and Raja Barad.
Key Takeaways:
- Shashi Tharoor refused to criticize Operation Sindoor, calling it a successful military response.
- Rahul Gandhi’s office had requested Tharoor to lead the Congress’s attack in Parliament.
- The Congress leadership decided to drop him from the debate lineup.
- Tharoor is reportedly at a crossroads within the party, after facing internal criticism for his earlier foreign engagements.
Also Read : Operation Sindoor Debate Stalled Amid Opposition Protests Over Bihar Voter List
