By: The Trek News Desk
Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor on Saturday (January 24, 2026) asserted that he has never gone against the party’s official position in Parliament, while maintaining that he stands firmly by his principled views on Operation Sindoor and has no reason to apologise for them.
Speaking during an interactive session at the Kerala Literature Festival, Tharoor said Operation Sindoor was one issue on which he expressed his opinion openly and with conviction. He reiterated that his views on matters of national security have always been consistent and clear.
Tharoor’s remarks come amid speculation about differences between him and the party leadership. Recent reports have suggested that he may be unhappy over not being adequately acknowledged by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at an event in Kochi, as well as alleged efforts by state-level leaders to marginalise him.
Clarifying his position, Tharoor said that after the Pahalgam incident, he wrote a newspaper column arguing that such an attack should not go unanswered and that a firm but limited response was necessary. He stressed that while India’s primary focus remains on development, the country should avoid being drawn into a prolonged conflict with Pakistan, and any action should be restricted to targeting terrorist infrastructure.
Tharoor noted that he was surprised to see the government subsequently take steps along the same lines he had suggested. Citing former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, he recalled the famous question: “Who survives if India dies?”
He emphasised that when the nation’s security, sovereignty, and standing in the world are at stake, national interest must take precedence. According to Tharoor, political disagreements are a natural part of democracy and the process of building a stronger India, but unity is essential when it comes to matters of national importance.
Source: News Agencies
