A fresh political row has erupted within the Congress party as senior leader Pawan Khera indirectly rebuked colleague Shashi Tharoor by quoting a critical excerpt from Tharoor's own book. The move comes after Tharoor’s recent praise of the Modi government’s handling of terrorism, especially referencing surgical strikes across the Line of Control, which sparked internal backlash. Khera posted an image of a highlighted passage from Tharoor’s 2018 book The Paradoxical Prime Minister, where Tharoor accused the Modi government of “shamelessly exploiting” military operations for electoral gain—something he claimed Congress had never done. “I agree with what Dr Shashi Tharoor writes about surgical strikes,” Khera remarked in his post, clearly signaling dissent over Tharoor’s recent public statements.

The controversy follows Tharoor’s comments during a global outreach in Panama, where he acknowledged a shift in India's retaliatory stance against terrorism, citing the 2016 Uri and 2019 Balakot strikes. His remarks were perceived by several Congress leaders as being too generous towards the BJP-led Centre. Congress communications head Jairam Ramesh added to the criticism with a poetic jab, while party leader Udit Raj went further, accusing Tharoor of echoing BJP narratives.

Tharoor responded from abroad, stating that his comments were misinterpreted and aimed at highlighting the evolving security doctrine, not diminishing previous governments. He emphasized that his views were personal and not reflective of the party’s official stance. This isn't the first time Tharoor has found himself at odds with the Congress leadership. From praising PM Modi in 2014 to contesting for party presidency in 2022, his independent political voice continues to stir unease within the party, especially as internal unity is seen as crucial in the current political climate.