In the wake of internal disagreements over statements made by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor regarding India’s surgical strikes, the party has taken steps to address the situation. Tharoor had asserted that India’s first cross-border surgical strike occurred in 2016, a claim that sparked controversy within the party ranks.
Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala responded by reaffirming Tharoor’s integral role in the party, stating, “Shashi Tharoor is a senior Congress leader and very much part of the Congress family.” However, Surjewala also pointed out that Tharoor’s statement was factually incorrect, emphasizing that surgical strikes had been carried out during the UPA government’s tenure as well. He noted that these operations were conducted to counter terrorist threats and had been acknowledged by former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and documented in Tharoor’s own writings.
The party’s clarification aims to maintain unity while correcting the public record. Tharoor, currently leading an all-party delegation to highlight India’s counter-terrorism efforts, has not publicly responded to the party’s statements. The incident underscores the challenges political parties face in managing internal discourse and public communication on sensitive national security issues.
