'Crossed Lakshman Rekha': Congress pulls up Shashi Tharoor for praising Modi

Congress pulled up the senior MP, saying his views were 'personal'

New Delhi: With Shashi Tharoor crossing the "Lakshman Rekha” (red line) by deviating from party line on Operation Sindoor and subsequent ceasefire announcement, Congress on Wednesday pulled up the senior MP, saying his views were “personal” and that it is the time to amplify party's stand and not for espousing individual views.

At a meeting of senior leaders to discuss the situation following ceasefire announcement and related developments, including US President Donald Trump announcing the cessation of the conflict between India and Pakistan, sources said Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh referred to Tharoor’s statements that were in deviance with party line.

Asked about the Thiruvananthapuram MP's statements in interviews which were seen as supportive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ramesh told a press conference after the meeting, "It is his personal view. When Tharoor speaks, it does not reflect the views of the party.” Tharoor could not be contacted for his comments.

Ramesh did not elaborate or say anything about him raising the issue at the nearly two-hour-long meeting attended by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. A senior leader said they were told that it is not the time to amplify one’s personal views but that of the party line.

While insisting that it was directed to all leaders and not specific to a particular person, the leader said Congress is a party that gives “a lot of freedom” to its leaders but there is a feeling that Tharoor has “crossed the Lakshman Rekha” this time.

Tharoor’s criticism came in his presence at the meeting, which also saw the attendance of Congress General Secretaries KC Venugopal, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sachin Pilot, Randeep Surjewala and Mukul Wasnik, P Chidambaram, and Ambika Soni.

Sources said Tharoor told the meeting about the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, which he heads, summoning Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri for a briefing on Operation Sindoor and its effect. He is learnt to have told the meeting that the government is not in control of the narrative because of US President Donald Trump’s statements on ceasefire.

While Congress has been raising questions over the government’s handling of the situation, Tharoor came out in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he has handled it “extremely well”. Tharoor also grabbed headlines for his comments with his critics saying he has become an effective spokesperson of the government.