“For those zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour across the LoC: in the past,” Tharoor wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding, “I was clearly and explicitly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars.”
He clarified that his remarks were preceded by a reference to the several attacks that have taken place in recent years alone, “during which previous Indian responses were both restrained and constrained by our responsible respect for the LoC and the IB.”The controversy started after Tharoor remarked that India had breached the Line of Control (LoC) for the first time in September 2016 to conduct surgical strikes on terror launchpads following the Uri attack – a move which he said, “We had not done before,” even during the Kargil war.
After a long and successful day in Panama, i have to wind up at midnightvhere with departure for Bogota, Colombia in six hours, so I don’t really have time for this — but anyway: For those zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour across the LoC: in tge…
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 29, 2025
“As usual, critics and trolls are welcome to distort my views and words as they see fit. I genuinely have better things to do,” Tharoor concluded, as he was set to leave for Bogota, Colombia.
Congress members hit back
Tharoor’s comments were immediately challenged by Congress leaders, who termed them “factually incorrect.” Congress Media and Publicity Department Chairman, Pawan Khera and MP Udit Raj cited past military actions, including the 1965 and 1971 wars, and covert strikes during the UPA regime, to counter Tharoor’s narrative.
Udit Raj mocked Tharoor, calling him a “super spokesperson of the BJP,” further accusing him of undermining the legacy of the Congress. “My dear Shashi Tharoor, Alas! I could prevail upon PM Modi to declare you as super spokesperson of BJP, even declaring as foreign minister before landing in India,” he wrote on X.
Read more: ‘I will not be found wanting’: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on key role in India’s diplomatic outreach
“How could you denigrate the golden history of Congress by saying that before PM Modi , India never crossed LOC and International border. In 1965 Indian Army entered Pakistan at multiple points, which completely surprised the Pakistanis in the Lahore sector. In 1971 , India tore Pakistan in two pieces,” he added.
My dear @Shashitharoor
Alas ! I could prevail upon PM Modi to declare you as super spokesperson of BJP , even declaring as foreign minister before landing in India . How could you denigrate the golden history of Congress by saying that before PM Modi , India never crossed LOC… https://t.co/c88b8rX2bq– Dr. Udit Raj (@DR_UDITraj) May 28, 2025
Raj further stated that during the UPA government, several surgical strikes were unleashed but “drum beating was not done to encash politically. How could you be so dishonest to the party which gave you so much?”
Pawan Khera also shared archival evidence, including a 1965 image of Indian soldiers in Lahore’s Burki village, and reposted a report by CNBC-TV18 quoting former PM Manmohan Singh affirming similar strikes during UPA, along with sharing a 2016 media report, citing S Jaishankar, who was a foreign secretary at that time, stating that India had conducted surgical strikes previously too but the government had made it public for the first time.
“Officers of 4 Sikh Regiment posing outside a captured Pakistani police station in Burki, Lahore District. This image is from the Battle of Burki (also known as the Battle of Lahore, 1965), a significant engagement during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, fought between Indian infantry units and Pakistani armoured forces,” Khera wrote on X.
Officers of 4 Sikh Regiment posing outside a captured Pakistani police station in Burki, Lahore District.
This image is from the Battle of Burki (also known as the Battle of Lahore, 1965), a significant engagement during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, fought between Indian… pic.twitter.com/5lzUrA3aOw– Pawan khara ???????? (@Pawankhara) May 28, 2025
Khera further shared another post stating that he agrees with “that Tharoor” who wrote about surgical strikes in his 2018 book, The Paradoxical Prime Minister’.
I agree with that Dr @Shashitharoor who wrote about surgical strikes in his book in 2018 – ‘The Paradoxical Prime Minister’. #ReadingNow pic.twitter.com/hAhsfwH0JT
– Pawan khara ???????? (@Pawankhara) May 29, 2025
BJP says Rahul Gandhi behind attacks on Tharoor
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) quickly capitalised on the internal rift within the Congress. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju questioned whether it was “forbidden to speak for the country” in the Congress, while party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Rahul Gandhi had deployed Udit Raj to attack Tharoor for priortising national interest.
“What does the Congress party want & how much they really care for the country? Should the Indian MPs go to foreign nation and speak against India and its Prime Minister?,” Rijiju stated on X, quote tweeting his previous post on the matter.
What does the Congress party want & How much they really care for the country? Should the Indian MPs go to foreign nation and speak against India and its Prime Minister?
There’s limit to political desperation! https://t.co/JiuYqpW2tN— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) May 28, 2025
Poonawalla told PTI, “Shashi Tharoor is being attacked at the behest of Rahul Gandhi because Shashi Tharoor kept India first not (Gandhi) family. He talked about national interest, not his party’s interest. He is being attacked because he kept national policy above the vote bank (politics).”
He further accused the Congress of launching “missiles at its own leader” while remaining silent on Pakistan’s provocations.
The BJP framed Tharoor’s remarks as an example of putting “India first” in contrast to what it called the Congress’ “vote bank politics,” especially in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people.
Army’s statement and RTI reply
Some historical records support Tharoor’s technical framing. Following the 2016 Uri attack, the Indian Army had publicly stated that the September 2016 operation was the first publicly acknowledged strike across the LoC in retaliation to the terrorism.
Read more: ‘This will disturb sleep of many’: PM Modi’s jibe at INDIA bloc as Shashi Tharoor, Kerala CM share a stage
Further, an RTI response and a 2019 statement by then Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh confirmed that previous cross-border actions had occurred but under different operational classifications and without the same political messaging.
“Army does not have any data pertaining to surgical strikes if carried out before September 29, 2016,” the 2018 RTI reply by then Director General of Military Operations (DGMO), was quoted as saying by News18.
Foreign policy blunder or internal power play?
The whole episode raises broader questions about the internal coherence in the Congress’ messaging on national security and its response to terrorism.
Tharoor, who is a seasoned diplomat and vocal parliamentarian has frequently articulated positions that blend nuance with strategic clarity but has also been seen as somewhat out of sync with the party’s combative posturing in recent times.
Read more: Shashi Tharoor’s expulsion on the cards? Congress in wait-and-watch mode
The timing of the controversy, during international delegations’ tours aimed at building consensus against Pakistan’s alleged support for cross-border terrorism, only adds a layer of diplomatic complexity.
While Tharoor’s emphasis appears to be in-line with characterising India’s response to terrorism, the party’s pushback showcases discontent about admitting to BJP’s narrative ground. The controversy may also reflect deeper factionalism within Congress, with Tharoor being observed as slipping away from the party’s stance and occupying more of a centrist space.
