The political debate around Shashi Tharoor’s recent remarks regarding India’s surgical strikes and the breach of the Line of Control (LoC) has intensified, with the Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju fiercely defending the Congress MP and criticizing his own party’s leadership for their backlash.

Tharoor, who was handpicked by the Centre to lead one of the parliamentary delegations abroad to highlight India’s stand on terrorism and cross-border issues, made headlines when he stated that India crossed the LoC for the first time during the 2016 surgical strikes targeting terror bases in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This statement triggered a strong reaction from Congress leaders, including former BJP MP Udit Raj and Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera, who accused Tharoor of distorting historical facts and dishonouring the legacy of the Congress party.

The Congress party's criticism stems from the belief that India had conducted military operations across the LoC well before 2016, citing the 1965 and 1971 Indo-Pak wars, and other surgical strikes during the UPA government that did not receive political grandstanding. To support their claims, Pawan Khera posted a historic photograph of the 4 Sikh Regiment outside a captured Pakistani police station during the Battle of Burki in 1965, underscoring that Indian troops had indeed crossed into Pakistani territory in previous conflicts.

On the other side, Kiren Rijiju expressed frustration over Congress’s attacks on Tharoor, questioning if the party expected Indian MPs to criticize the country on foreign soil. Rijiju's post on X (formerly Twitter) accused the Congress party of political desperation, highlighting that criticizing an MP leading a diplomatic mission abroad undermines national unity and India’s position on terrorism and border security.

Tharoor himself responded to the controversy with measured remarks, clarifying that his comments specifically referred to reprisal strikes after terrorist attacks and not to historic wars. He emphasized that previous Indian military responses were “restrained and constrained” by respect for the LoC and international borders. Despite this, he noted the distortion of his words by critics and chose to move on from the heated debate.

The controversy around Tharoor’s remarks has brought to light deep political divisions over the narrative of India’s military actions and national security policies. The incident also reflects the challenges faced by political leaders representing India on international platforms while balancing domestic political rivalries.

Key points highlighted in the article include:

• The role of Operation Sindoor, referenced by Tharoor, where India responded decisively to Pakistan-backed terror attacks, symbolically described as matching the "vermillion colour of the sindoor" with the blood of terrorists.

• Congress’s insistence on reminding the public about India’s military history and the party’s own contributions to national security during previous governments.

• The broader implications of how political parties in India frame and contest narratives related to terrorism, cross-border conflicts, and diplomatic outreach.

In conclusion, this episode underscores the complex interplay of politics, history, and national security in India’s contemporary discourse. It also highlights the challenges MPs face while representing India’s official stance internationally when domestic political factions use their statements to score political points. Kiren Rijiju’s strong defense of Tharoor signals the BJP’s resolve to back their representatives against such criticisms, while Congress’s counterattacks reflect their determination to protect their historical legacy.

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