Page 6 - The Indian EYE 052325

EYE ON INDIA MAY 23, 2025 | The Indian Eye 6

OPERATION SINDOOR

Is Tharoor in trouble as he

bats for Modi Govt as Congress

questions Trump stance

Kerala MP highlights the importance of rallying around the national flag, particularly in

the US, Europe, and the Middle East, where India’s perspective was underrepresenteds

OUR BUREAU

New Delhi
he Congress party extended support to the
Centre in its action against those behind the
TApril 22 Pahalgam terror attack. But now
the party has questioned the BJP-led Centre and
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on United States
President Donald Trump’s claims of mediating be-
tween the India and Pakistan on the cessation of
hostilities.
Caught in the middle is the Congress MP
Shashi Tharoor who on Thursday clarified his
stance on Operation Sindoor, emphasizing that his
views were personal and not representative of the
party’s opinion. He highlighted the importance of
rallying around the national flag, particularly in the
US, Europe, and the Middle East, to contribute to
the national conversation, especially international-
ly, where India’s perspective was underrepresented.
This comes after the Congress party distanced
itself from party MP Shashi Tharoor’s remarks on Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, party leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, and others, during the party meeting,
the Operation Sindoor and understanding between
India and Pakistan. at party headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday (ANI)
Tharoor emphasized that his opinions were in-
dividual and not reflective of the Congress party’s I have said, you may agree or disagree with that, comed the understanding between India and Paki-
stance. blame it on me individually, and that’s fine...” said stan to halt all military actions--on land, at sea, and
“I made it very clear that I am expressing my Tharoor on Congress party’s reported remarks - in the air and emphasized the importance of ‘peace.’
personal views. It was really a contribution to the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ and ‘not party’s opinion’ over Now, BJP leader Nalin Kohli has criticized the
national discourse, at a time when it was very im- his stance regarding Operation Sindoor and In- Congress party for its reported remarks - “crossed
portant for us to rally around the flag, especially dia-Pakistan understanding. Lakshman Rekha,” on Shashi Tharoor after he
internationally. There was a relative lack of our On Wednesday, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh expressed his views on the understanding between
point of view being heard, particularly in the US, had said, “It is his opinion. What Shashi Tharoor India and Pakistan and Operation Sindoor.
Europe, and the Middle East...,” said Tharoor. speaks is not the opinion of the party.” Kohli asked how there can be a ‘Lakshman
He claimed to have received no communica- Reacting on this, Tharoor endorsed Jairam Rekha’ for speaking in the interest of the country
tion from the party regarding his views, only seeing Ramesh’s remarks, reiterating that he is not a and standing with the armed forces.
media reports. spokesman of the party. He noted that his party - “One is amazed to note that the media seems
“People are entirely free to reject my point of Congress, had already declared complete solidarity to be reporting that Shashi Tharoor’s comments
view. I have received no communication from the with the government and the armed forces at the standing in favor of the Government’s actions
party; all I am seeing is media reports...,” added the beginning of India-Pakistan ‘conflict’ and with that with regard to Pakistan, speaking in favor of the
Congress leader. spirit, he also expressed his support. armed forces is taken to be crossing the ‘Lakshman
Tharoor affirmed that he spoke as an Indian Furthermore, Congress MP Tharoor refut- Rekha’. How can there be a ‘Lakshman Rekha’ for
and the views he expressed were his personal, add- ed the reports which had claimed that Congress speaking in the interest of the country? How can
ing that he is neither a spokesperson of the party leaders in the meeting of Congress Working Com- there be a ‘Lakshman Rekha’ standing with the
nor the government. mittee (CWC) had said that Tharoor has “crossed armed forces in their action? In fact, if someone
“...At this time, at a time of conflict, I spoke Lakshman Rekha’ over his stance regarding Oper- considers this crossing the ‘Lakshman Rekha’, then
as an Indian. I never pretended to speak for any- ation Sindoor and India-Pakistan understanding. one wonders what will be the ‘Lakshman Rekha’ of
one else. I am not a spokesperson for the party. Tharoor has been praising the Centre’s han- those people who stand against the country’s inter-
I am not the government spokesperson. Whatever dling of Operation Sindoor. Tharoor had also wel- ests?” Kohli said.

www.TheIndianEYE.com