Kochi: Senior Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has firmly stated that when it comes to a choice between party lines and national interest, his loyalty lies with the nation.
Responding to internal criticism over his recent praise of Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack, Tharoor said, “I stand my ground because I believe this is right for the country. The nation comes first.”
Speaking at an event in Kochi, Tharoor was questioned by a high school student about his apparent differences with the Congress leadership. Candid in his response, he said, “Though I usually avoid politics in such forums, the student deserved an honest answer.” He later posted the exchange on X.
In Kochi today, I was asking inevitable question by a high school student. While I have been steering clear of such political discussions in public, I felt a student deserved a response: pic.twitter.com/AIUpDBl0Kf
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 19, 2025
Defending his stance, Tharoor asserted that national interest must transcend partisan politics. “Many have criticised me, but I believe what I said was right for the country,” he reiterated.
Without naming names, he took a veiled dig at internal detractors: “Politics is inherently competitive. When someone like me says national security should unite all parties, it’s wrongly seen as disloyalty. But parties exist to serve the nation, not the other way around.”
While reaffirming his 16-year commitment to the Congress, Tharoor emphasized that internal disputes should be handled privately. “Disagreements should be addressed behind closed doors,” he said.
Calling for political unity on core national issues, Tharoor added, “Parliament has 46 parties today. Despite ideological differences — be it capitalism, socialism, or regulation — the shared goal must be a stronger, safer India.”
The Congress MP has recently drawn criticism from within his own party for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the Pahalgam terror response and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. His nomination by the Centre to lead a delegation to the U.S. further deepened internal discontent among party colleagues.
