Why Tharoor Annoys Congress

Having been asked about Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor’s comments on political issues on more than one occasion, Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh thought it best to make a policy statement. Asked if Tharoor jumped the gun in questioning the veracity of United States President Donald Trump’s claim of “mediation” in the May 7-10 India-Pakistan conflict, Ramesh said “Who unki rai hai. Jab Tharoor saab bolte hain, to woh party ki rai nahin hoti (It is his personal view. When Tharoor speaks it is not the party viewpoint).”

The nub of the matter runs deeper than a senior MP speaking out of turn. After endorsing the Modi government’s call for action against Pakistan for the Pahalgam atrocities,  Congress thereafter moved away from the “consensus” with party leader Rahul Gandhi accusing external affairs minister S Jaishankar of having “informed” Pakistan at the start of India’s retaliatory strikes for the Pahalgam terror attack. He then asked how many Indian fighters were lost due to Pakistan being tipped off.

Rahul’s remarks predictably set off a political firefight with Bharatiya Janata Party accusing him of talking Pakistan’s language. “It is unfortunate that at a time when the entire nation stands united against Pakistan, against terrorism, against the enemies of our country, leaders of responsible parties are not doing the same…Opposing Modi should not mean opposing the country,” said agriculture minister Shivraj Chouhan.

Tharoor remains unfazed. Responding to Ramesh’s remarks, he said he was approached for his comments as it was felt he might be qualified to speak on such subjects and he had indeed offered his personal views. “And I make it very clear, sometimes explicitly and sometimes implicitly, that I am expressing my personal views as an Indian, as a proud citizen,” he said. Tharoor followed it up with lengthy edit page article in The Hindu calling for bipartisanship on matters of national security.

The MP’s emphasis that he was speaking as a good and patriotic citizen carries the unstated but evident suggestion that Congress needs to be mindful of national interest rather than be driven by a desire to question the apparent success of Indian armed forces in the short but hard-fought conflict. Rather than directly echoing unverified claims aired by Pakistan and some sections of western media about Indian jets being downed, Rahul sought to blame the Modi government of causing the alleged mishap.

“EAM Jaishankar’s silence is isn’t just telling – its damning. So I will ask again: How many Indian aircraft did we lose because Pakistan knew?” Rahul asked on X. In an official briefing, the Indian Air Force had said revealing losses would only work to the enemy’s advantage but clarified that all pilots were back safe. The clear indication was that IAF possibly lost a plane but would not confirm the number.

Tharoor’s edit article that appeared after these posts argues that political ideologies should not warp responses to national security challenges the country faces. This is in keeping with his reported comments during the meeting of Congress Working Committee held in Ahmedabad on April 8 where he said there is a need for the party to represent positivity and hope rather than resentment and criticism.

The point Tharoor makes has not been lost but flies against the path taken by Rahul since 2014. In a rare media interaction during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first term he listed Congress’s success  in marring the government’s “feel good” factor as an achievement. The problem is that any remote suggestion that the government might have done well or an endorsement of its strategies is anathema for Congress.

This is not the first time that Congress has made such a choice. Congress under Sonia Gandhi might have appeared less confrontational but did not hesitate in fuelling daily demonstrations to put the Vajpayee government under pressure when Air India flight IC 814 was hijacked to Kandhahar. The shot point is there are no takers for Tharoor’s view that Congress must be less mired by grievance politics.

It is fair point that BJP attacks on Rahul was peronalised too, castigating him for making irresponsible statements detrimental to national security when not outrightly labelling him a “Pappu.” Yet, it has hardly been a one-way street with Rahul sometimes claiming in Lok Sabha that the PM cannot look him in the eye, mockingly asking BJP “daro mat (don’t be scared) and on one occasion even seeking to physically embrace Modi in the chamber after claiming he bears no ill will towards the ruling party.

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