‘Shashi Tharoor a part of Congress household, however…’: Randeep Surjewala tries to defuse tensions over surgical strike claims

Addressing the media, Surjewala mentioned Shashi Tharoor’s latest remarks about surgical strikes, made because the chief of an all-party delegation to reveal Pakistan, have been factually incorrect and that the Congress had solely corrected the report by mentioning that the surgical strikes and in addition at different dens of terrorists “have been repeatedly executed” throughout Congress-led UPA authorities to present a befetting reply to terrorists.

“Shashi Tharoor is a senior Congress chief and really a lot a part of the Congress household. Nonetheless, what he mentioned concerning the surgical strike was factually incorrect,” Surjewala instructed reporters.

He mentioned surgical strikes had been carried out by the armed forces, and when the Congress-led UPA authorities was in energy.

“Congress celebration solely corrected (him) by mentioning that surgical strikes towards Pakistan and different dens of terrorists was a daily characteristic even in the course of the UPA time period – to present a befitting reply to terrorists by our armed forces and the Congress governments. These cases have been detailed up to now by the communications division (when Surjewala headed the division). Former PM Dr Manmohan Singh as himself spoken about them; Tharoor himself in his e-book spoken about them, and Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera have solely put the report straight. It isn’t a matter of acrimony and doubt,” Surjewala mentioned.

Shashi Tharoor, who’s main an all-party delegation to companion international locations to focus on India’s zero tolerance to terror and Operation Sindoor, mentioned in Panama that India has modified its method in recent times, and terrorists have additionally realised they must pay a value.

Referring to 2016’s surgical strike and 2019’s Balakot airstrike in his handle, the Congress MP from Kerala mentioned, “What has modified in recent times is that the terrorists have additionally realised they are going to have a value to pay; on that, let there be little question. When, for the primary time, India breached the Line of Management between India and Pakistan to conduct a surgical strike on a terror base, a launch pad – the Uri strike. That was already one thing we had not completed earlier than. Even in the course of the Kargil Warfare, we had not crossed the Line of Management; in Uri, we did, after which got here the assault in Pulwama in January 2019.”

“This time, now we have not solely gone past the Line of Management and the worldwide border. We’ve got struck on the Punjabi heartland of Pakistan by hitting terror bases, coaching centres, and terror headquarters in 9 locations,” Tharoor added.

Congress vs Shashi Tharoor

Shashi Tharoor’s assertion led to some Congress leaders articulating their disagreement.

A number of Congress leaders, together with media and publicity division head Pawan Khera and celebration chief Udit Raj, criticised Tharoor for not mentioning surgical strikes towards Pakistan in the course of the UPA authorities in his shows overseas.

Udit Raj mentioned he needs to be made a “tremendous spokesperson of the BJP”.

The Congress’s digs continued on Thursday, with Udit Raj saying what the Kerala MP had mentioned was a “lie and a conspiracy to destroy the Congress”.

“The delegations which have been despatched are attempting to destroy the identify of the Congress… Shashi Tharoor says that earlier than PM Modi’s management, we by no means crossed LoC or any worldwide border with Pakistan. It’s a large lie and a giant conspiracy to destroy the historical past of the Congress which must be replied to,” Raj instructed PTI.

“He ought to deal with his responsibility somewhat than criticising the Congress celebration… Congress took required measures up to now however by no means publicised it or used it as a medium of amassing votes of their favour,” he mentioned.

Raj’s remarks have been reposted on X by Congress common secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh.

Pawan Khera additionally shared a screenshot from Tharoor’s e-book during which he criticised the Modi authorities for allegedly exploiting the 2016 surgical strikes politically.

“I agree with that Dr Shashi Tharoor who wrote about surgical strikes in his e-book in 2018 – ‘The Paradoxical Prime Minister’,” Khera mentioned.

“The shameless exploitation of the 2016 ‘surgical strikes’ alongside the Line of Management with Pakistan, and of a navy raid in sizzling pursuit of rebels in Myanmar, as a celebration election tool–something the Congress had by no means completed regardless of having licensed a number of such strikes earlier–marked a very disgraceful dilution of the precept that nationwide safety points require each discretion and non-partisanship,” Tharoor writes within the e-book.

Shashi Tharoor slams ‘zealots’

An apparently infuriated Tharoor additionally put out a prolonged put up on X.

“After an extended and profitable day in Panama, I’ve to wind up at midnight right here with departure for Bogota, Colombia in six hours, so I do not actually have time for this ‘”however anyway: For these zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour throughout the LoC up to now – 1. I used to be clearly and explicitly talking solely about reprisals for terrorist assaults and never about earlier wars.”

“My remarks have been preceded by a reference to the a number of assaults which have taken place in recent times alone, throughout which earlier Indian responses have been each restrained and constrained by our accountable respect for the LoC and the IB,” Tharoor mentioned, whereas responding to the criticism.