New Delhi: The Congress versus Congress war continued on Thursday with senior party leader Shashi Tharoor, who had came under fire from own party leaders git back at them mentioning that some zealots fulminating about his supposed ignorance of Indian valour across the LoC in the past and said that clearly and explicitly he was speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars.
Tharoor, who is currently heading the all party delegation took to X and said, “After a long and successful day in Panama, i have to wind up at midnightvhere with departure for Bogota, Colombia in six hours, so I don’t really have time for this — but anyway: For those zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour across the LoC: in the past.”
He mentioned: “I was clearly and explicitly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars and my remarks were preceded by a reference to the several attacks that have taken place in recent years alone, during which previous Indian responses were both restrained and constrained by our responsible respect for the LoC and the IB (International Border).”
Targeting the party leaders, he said, “But as usual, critics and trolls are welcome to distort my views and words as they see fit. I genuinely have better things to do. Goodnight.”
His remarks came after he came under fire from his party leaders Udit Raj and Pawan Khera, who is also the Chairman of the media and publicity department for his views on India carried out surgical strikes across the border since 2014.
Soon after Tharoor on Thursday clarified his position, Khera took to X and wrote, “I agree with that Dr Shashi Tharoor who wrote about surgical strikes in his book in 2018 – ‘The Paradoxical Prime Minister’. #ReadingNow”
Khera also shared a picture of a page from his book where he mentooned about the surgical strikes.
Khera highlighted the portion of Tharoor book where he wrote, “The shameless exploitation of the 2016 ‘surgical strikes’ along the Line of Control with Pakistan, and of a military raid in hot pursuit of rebels in Myanmar, as a party election tool – something the Congress had never done despite having authorized several such strikes earlier-marked a particularly disgraceful dilution of the principle that national security issues require both discretion and non-partisanship.”
Even Congress general secretary and communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh shared the post of Khera quoting, “Indeed.”
Meanwhile, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala also commented on the controversy and said, “Tharoor is a seasoned and experienced leader of Congress and is very much part of Congress.”
“However, what he said about surgical strike was factually incorrect. Congress party only corrected by pointing out that surgical strikes at Pakistan and other places on the den of terrorists is a regular feature even during Congress UPA term. In order to give a befitting reply to terrorists by our armed forces and the then Congress governments. Those instances have been detailed in the past by the communications department. Dr Manmohan Singh former Prime Minister has himself spoken about them, Tharoor himself in his book spoken about them, Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera have only put the record straight and it should not be a matter of acromany and doubt,” Surjewala, who is also Karnataka incharge said.
Tharoor has come under fire on Wednesday as Raj, who is party’s spokesperson had targeted Tharoor on X and same post being shared by Khera.
Raj, in a post on ‘X’, said, “My dear Shashi Tharoor. Alas ! I could prevail upon PM Modi to declare you as super spokesperson of BJP, even declaring as foreign minister before landing in India.”
Taking a pot shot at Tharoor, Udit Raj said, “How could you denigrate the golden history of Congress by saying that before PM Modi, India never crossed LoC and International border. In 1965 Indian Army entered Pakistan at multiple points, which completely surprised the Pakistanis in the Lahore sector. In 1971, India tore Pakistan in two pieces and during UPA Government several surgical strikes were unleashed but drum beating was not done to encash politically. How could you be so dishonest to the party which gave you so much?”
Tharoor has came under attack from party leaders in last few months at national level and also at state level.
Tharoor was criticised by many qfter he accepted the government’s proposal to lead the all party delegation.
Tharoor had taken to X, and had said, “I am honoured by the invitation of the government of India to lead an all-party delegation to five key capitals, to present our nation’s point of view on recent events. When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting. Jai Hind!”
Whereas, Salman Khurshid when contacted by the government maintained that he had informed the party first about the same.
Earlier, Tharoor had faced backlash from the Kerala party leaders after he had praised the Pinarayi Vijayan government in the state.
Tharoor had on several occasions found himself in the line of fire by own party leaders and had maintained his stand for the party.
ENDS
