“Shashi Tharoor will join the BJP” – Congress leaders

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has strongly pushed back against internal criticism, defending his support for the government’s response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack. Tharoor emphasized that serving the nation should never be mistaken for disloyalty to one’s party.

“Those who view national service as disloyalty to the party need to reassess their values,” Tharoor said in an interview with PTI Videos from the United States, where he is currently heading a multi-party delegation as part of ‘Operation Sindoor’.

Tharoor’s comments come amid backlash from some Congress members who accused him of aligning too closely with the government’s stance, even going so far as to label him the “super spokesperson of the BJP.”

“When you’re working in the national interest, political distractions shouldn’t matter,” Tharoor remarked.

Addressing speculation over his political future, especially rumors about him leaving Congress or joining the BJP, Tharoor was clear: “I’ve been elected to serve a five-year term. I still have four years left. I see no reason for these questions to arise.”

He acknowledged that his opinions have occasionally diverged from the Congress party’s official position but reiterated his commitment to open democratic debate. When asked about Rahul Gandhi’s sharp criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly “surrendering” to U.S. pressure during the crisis, Tharoor responded, “In any healthy democracy, political parties will differ, criticize, and debate. That’s a normal part of democratic life.”

He emphasized that the current overseas delegation is not a partisan effort. “We are here as representatives of a united India,” he said, highlighting the presence of leaders from five political parties, three faiths, and seven states—underscoring India’s pluralism and shared resolve.

Referencing Congress leader Salman Khurshid’s recent comment on the challenges of patriotism in today’s India, Tharoor stressed the importance of unity. “Our delegation is a true representation of India’s diversity, yet we are here speaking with one voice. That’s the real meaning of unity in diversity.”

The group includes MPs Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur Balayogi, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Milind Deora, Tejasvi Surya, and former Indian Ambassador to the U.S., Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Since arriving in New York on May 24, they have visited Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and are currently in Washington D.C., the final leg of their diplomatic outreach.

Reflecting on a past interview, Tharoor reaffirmed his core belief: “Our political debates stop at the nation’s borders. Beyond that, we are simply Indians.”

When asked about former U.S. President Donald Trump’s past claims of mediating between India and Pakistan, Tharoor declined to delve into speculation. “We hold the U.S. presidency in high regard. Whatever was communicated to Pakistan is between them. From our side, the message was always clear: if Pakistan escalates, we will respond. If they stop, so will we.”

He reiterated that there was no outside pressure needed for India’s restraint. “Our stance from the beginning was firm and consistent. We didn’t require persuasion. Our policy was simple: stop if they stop.”

The recent surge in India-Pakistan tensions followed the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. India responded with precision strikes on May 7 targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Pakistan attempted retaliatory strikes over the next three days, all of which were met with a strong Indian response. A ceasefire agreement was reached after military officials from both nations held talks on May 10.