Shashi Tharoor clarifies his stance is pro-India, not pro-BJP

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor stated on Friday that his opinions on some issues are rooted in being pro-government or pro-India and should not be interpreted as being pro-BJP.

According to Tharoor, the media may have interpreted certain of his stances as being in line with the BJP, but he has continuously insisted that he chooses to speak for the nation on some international issues rather than using a political perspective, TNIE reported.

“This is not new. I have always said that on some international issues, I don’t like to politicise matters and instead speak in the national interest,” the Congress MP said, PTI reported.

His views about the India-Pakistan scenario and diplomatic outreach after the Pahalgam attack caused controversy last year. Several party leaders questioned his intent and criticised the words, which deviated from the official viewpoint of the Congress. Tharoor did concede, though, that party members are required to adhere to the party line. “I have always stood with the party in Parliament, so there is no cause for concern,” he said.

Asked whether he would remain with the Congress, Tharoor said, “I am in the Congress and I am not going anywhere. I will be part of the Kerala poll campaign and will work for the victory of the UDF.” He also questioned why he was repeatedly being asked to clarify his loyalty.

On Thursday, Tharoor met with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi to discuss his concerns, following which he stated that "all is good" and that "we are all on the same page."

The meeting comes ahead of the important Kerala Assembly elections, in which the Congress-led UDF seeks to recapture power from the Left after a decade in opposition.