Congress MP Shashi Tharoor defended his comment on India's surgical strikes. He said people misunderstood him. According to him, he was talking about recent cross-border operations, not earlier wars.

On Wednesday, Tharoor said India crossed the LoC for the first time in 2016 under the current government. As a result, his statement drew sharp criticism.

Later, he clarified on X. He wrote, “After a long and successful day in Panama, I have to wind up at midnight here 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 past.” (sic)

Next, he pointed out two key clarifications. He said, “1. I was clearly and explicitly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars; & 2. My 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.” (sic)

Finally, he added, “But as usual, critics and trolls are welcome to distort my views and words as they see fit. I genuinely have better things to do. Goodnight.”

What Tharoor Said Earlier

Earlier in the week, Tharoor made his remarks while visiting Panama as part of an all-party delegation. He said, “For the first time, India breached the Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan to conduct a surgical strike on a terror base, a launch pad… (after) the Uri strike in September 2016.”

He added, “That was something we had not done before.”

Furthermore, he claimed, “Even during the Kargil War, we had not crossed the LoC.”

Congress Disagrees With Tharoor

However, Tharoor's own party disagreed with his statement. Congress leaders said his claim was “factually wrong.”

For instance, party spokesperson Pawan Khera quoted a media report. He said S. Jaishankar, as Foreign Secretary in 2016, told a parliamentary panel that India had already carried out “target-specific, limited-calibre, counter-terrorist operations” across the LoC in the past.

Additionally, Congress leader Udit Raj mocked Tharoor. He said the BJP should appoint Tharoor as External Affairs Minister. He remarked, “He was doing a better job than even the BJP spokesperson in defending the government.”

Soon after, Jairam Ramesh supported Udit Raj’s criticism. He also slammed Tharoor's remarks.

BJP Defends Tharoor, Hits Out at Congress

Meanwhile, the BJP came to Tharoor's defence. They accused Congress of punishing him for exposing Pakistan.

In a video message on X, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla claimed, “Congress is taking revenge from Dr Tharoor because he Exposed Pakistan Contested INC elections against Parivar ka candidate This is why First Family is taking revenge on him I myself know how this family operates They hate talent and anybody who puts India above Parivar.” (sic)