Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said his remarks praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s energy, dynamism and willingness to engage were in reference to the success of India’s outreach mission.
The Congress MP also said his remarks were “not a sign of” him leaping to join the Prime Minister’s party, contrary to multiple media reports.
“It is an article in which I described the success of this outreach mission, which showcases the unity of all the parties,” Tharoor said.
“I said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has himself demonstrated dynamism and energy in engaging with other countries. There is no such thing as the BJP’s foreign policy or the Congress’s foreign policy. There is only Indian foreign policy,” the Congress MP said.
“I said this 11 years ago when I was appointed the chairman of the External Affairs Committee of the Parliament,” Tharoor said.
“It is not a sign of me leaping to join Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party. It is a statement of national unity,” he added.
SHASHI THAROOR’s ARTICLE
On Monday, Shashi Tharoor, in an article, remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s energy, dynamism and willingness to engage remain a “prime asset” for India on the global stage but deserve greater backing.
His remark came days after he admitted to cracks in his ties with the Congress leadership, and at a time when the Congress has been consistently attacking the Modi government over its foreign policy, alleging that Indian diplomacy is being “shattered” and the country stands “isolated” globally.
In an article published in The Hindu, Tharoor said the diplomatic outreach following ‘Operation Sindoor’ was a moment of national resolve and effective communication.
Later, the Prime Minister’s Office shared Tharoor’s article on X and wrote, “Lok Sabha MP and former Union Minister Dr. Shashi Tharoor writes- Lessons from Operation Sindoor’s global outreach.”
Lok Sabha MP and former Union Minister Dr. @shashitharoor writes- Lessons from Operation Sindoor’s global outreach.https://t.co/bROpQsdtsP
via NaMo App pic.twitter.com/TxEUelNbww
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) June 23, 2025
The BJP took a swipe at the Congress over Tharoor’s article and said the Thiruvananthapuram MP has “exposed” Rahul Gandhi.
Reacting to Tharoor’s comments, BJP’s national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari wrote on X, “Shashi Tharoor admits that PM Modi’s dynamism and global outreach are a strategic advantage for India.”
Following the Pahalgam attack, Tharoor has been making comments on the India-Pakistan conflict and the diplomatic outreach that are at variance with the stand of the Congress, which has been questioning the government over US President Donald Trump’s claims of mediating a ceasefire between the two countries.
He has often drawn criticism from his party and jibes aimed at him by Congress leaders for his stand.
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