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The overseas all-party delegation has been tasked to present India’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy on terrorism and highlight recent developments under Operation Sindoor.
Congress veteran Shashi Tharoor did not feature in his party’s own shortlist of nominees for a key overseas all-party delegation. (ANI File)
Sharmistha Mukherjee, the daughter of former president Pranab Mukherjee, lashed out at the Congress for “conspicuously missing” names of party veterans Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari from the list of an overseas all-party delegation that has been tasked to present India’s “zero tolerance” policy on terrorism and highlight recent developments under Operation Sindoor.
Mukherjee, a former Congress leader, made the allegations after it came to light that Tharoor has been chosen to lead the delegation, despite not featuring in his party’s own shortlist of nominees for the task.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, on the morning of May 16, asked the Congress party to propose four names for inclusion in the delegations being sent abroad to present India’s stance on terrorism originating from Pakistan, according to party leader Jairam Ramesh.
The Congress recommendation list included Anand Sharma, a former Cabinet Minister; Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of the party in the Lok Sabha; Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, a Rajya Sabha MP; and Raja Brar, a Lok Sabha MP.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, however, announced that — Tharoor, a four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram — will lead the all-party delegation. Other members include BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, DMK’s Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule, and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MP Shrikant Shinde.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has described the Congress’s suggestions as “questionable.” BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya expressed on X that the Congress party’s choices for representing India at diplomatic meetings are not merely intriguing, but deeply questionable.
How Did Tharoor React?
Tharoor expressed his honour at the government’s invitation to lead an all-party delegation to five major capitals to represent India’s perspective on recent events. He affirmed his commitment to national interest, stating that he would always be ready to serve when needed.
I am honoured by the invitation of the government of India to lead an all-party delegation to five key capitals, to present our nation’s point of view on recent events. When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting.
Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/b4Qjd12cN9
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 17, 2025
The move comes amid continued demand by Indians to make Tharoor “international spokesperson of the government“. The Congress veteran had been garnering praise for globally putting forward India’s mission to end terror.
Is All OK Between Shashi Tharoor & Congress?
Tharoor, in fact, was not just praised by internet users but also the ruling party members — in a rare move. However, this seems to have caused discontent within his own party.
The Congress veteran in his recent public comments supported the government’s military response to terror. He mentioned that the government acted with restraint and precision, targeting only terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK during the May 7 strikes, reportedly killing over 100 terrorists.
Remarks from Tharoor clashed with the Congress Party’s official stance, which has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government for lacking transparency in the ceasefire agreement and questioned the US’s involvement in brokering it.
In a recent press briefing, Jairam Ramesh clarified that Tharoor’s comments were his own opinion, stating, “When Tharoor saab speaks, it is not the party’s opinion.”
Sources cited in a Press Trust of India (PTI) report revealed that senior party members believe Tharoor may have overstepped by frequently diverging from the party’s official position.
Tharoor has had a tumultuous relationship with the Congress high command, with several periods of tension. In 2014, he was removed from his role as party spokesperson after expressing positive views about Prime Minister Modi.
In 2020, he joined the G-23, a group of senior Congress leaders calling for significant organizational reforms. Many members of this group have since left the party.
In 2022, Tharoor ran for the Congress presidential election against Mallikarjun Kharge. Despite Kharge having the support of the Gandhi family, Tharoor received over 1,000 delegate votes.
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