PM Modi's willingness to engage 'prime asset' for India on global stage, says Tharoor Congress leader exposed Rahul: BJP

PTI, NEW DELHI, JUNE 23, 2025 :  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, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Monday, in remarks that are likely to irk his party and widen the growing cracks in his ties with its leadership.

Tharoor's praise for the Prime Minister comes 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 an English daily, Tharoor said the diplomatic outreach following "Operation Sindoor" was a moment of national resolve and effective communication.

"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. The diplomatic outreach following 'Operation Sindoor' was a moment of national resolve and effective communication. It affirmed that India, when united, can project its voice with clarity and conviction on international platforms,"

said the Congress leader, who led a multi-party delegation to the US and four other countries to convey India's stand following the Pahalgam terror attack and the military operation.

Tharoor said the lessons learned — the power of unity, the efficacy of clear communication, the strategic value of soft power, and the imperative of sustained public diplomacy — will undoubtedly serve as guiding principles as India navigates an increasingly complex international landscape, leveraging its three Ts — tech, trade, and tradition — and always striving for a more just, secure, and prosperous world.

In his article, the Congress MP said the aftermath of the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack and India’s resolute response through 'Operation Sindoor' presented a critical juncture for the nation’s foreign policy.

"While the immediate military action was decisive, the subsequent diplomatic outreach was equally, if not more, vital in shaping global perceptions and consolidating international support," he said.

"Leading one of the seven all-party Parliamentary delegations to five countries in the Western Hemisphere — Guyana, Panama, Colombia, Brazil, and the United States — offered me a unique vantage point to reflect on the lessons learned from this intensive period of public diplomacy," Tharoor said.

One of the most striking takeaways is the power of national unity in projecting a strong foreign policy voice, he said. The very composition of the delegations, featuring Members of Parliament (MPs) from diverse political parties, different states, and varied faiths, was a potent message in itself, Tharoor said.

Following the Pahalgam attack, the Congress leader 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 own party and jibes aimed at him by Congress leaders for his stand.

The delegation, led by Tharoor, visited the US on the last leg of a multi-nation tour to brief key interlocutors about Operation Sindoor, which India launched in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives.

The BJP took a swipe at the Congress on Monday over Tharoor’s praise for the Prime Minister, and said the Thiruvananthapuram MP has "exposed" Rahul Gandhi.

Reacting to Tharoor’s comments, BJP national spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari took potshots at the Congress. In a post on X, he said:

"Shashi Tharoor admits that PM Modi's dynamism and global outreach are a strategic advantage for India."

"Shashi Tharoor exposes Rahul Gandhi," Bhandari added.