Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has once again distanced himself from the party line, praising PM Narendra Modi’s leadership on the international stage in a new article, even as the Congress continues its sharp criticism of the government’s foreign policy.
In an opinion piece published in The Hindu on Monday, Tharoor lauded Modi’s “energy, dynamism and willingness to engage,” calling them a “prime asset” for India in global diplomacy. He added that such qualities “deserve greater backing,” highlighting what he described as a moment of national unity and effective international outreach following Operation Sindoor – India’s military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remains a prime asset for India on the global stage but deserves greater backing,” Tharoor wrote.
Tharoor’s remarks come at a time when the Congress party has repeatedly accused the Modi government of mishandling foreign relations. The party recently claimed India was becoming increasingly isolated on the world stage, pointing in part to the controversial lunch meeting between Pakistan’s army chief General Asim Munir and former US President Donald Trump in Washington, DC.
Tharoor, who led an all-party delegation to the US earlier this month as part of a broader diplomatic initiative, praised India’s outreach efforts following Operation Sindoor. The visit was part of a government-led campaign that dispatched seven multi-party delegations to 33 world capitals to highlight Pakistan’s alleged role in supporting cross-border terrorism.
Tharoor’s stance, particularly his support for India’s post-attack diplomatic efforts, stands in contrast to the Congress leadership’s narrative. His repeated public praise for the prime minister and the government’s foreign policy strategy has fueled speculation of widening rifts between him and his party.
This isn’t the first time Tharoor has drawn flak from within Congress ranks. However, Tharoor has maintained that national interest must override partisan politics, particularly on matters of international consequence.
With tensions high after Operation Sindoor and foreign policy increasingly in the spotlight, Tharoor’s comments are likely to stir fresh debate within the Congress and could signal further internal discord over how to engage with the Modi government’s handling of international affairs.
