BJP Criticizes Congress Over Tharoor’s Admission, Hopes Rahul Gandhi Won’t Discipline Him

At the Raisina Dialogue 2025, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor acknowledged that he was wrong to criticize India’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Tharoor admitted that his earlier comments where he argued that India had violated the UN Charter by not condemning actions that undermined Ukraine’s sovereignty were misplaced. He now noted that India’s balanced policy has allowed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to engage successfully with both the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, a move that Tharoor described as “wiping the egg off my face.”

Tharoor explained that India’s neutral stance has its benefits, highlighting that being geographically removed from Europe and not directly threatened helps maintain peace. His remarks come as a sharp contrast to his previous stance when he had accused the government of being too silent on the issue.\

BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya seized on Tharoor’s admission, suggesting that it might embarrass Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Malviya pointed out that Congress now has to clarify that Tharoor’s views represent his personal opinions rather than the party’s official stance. He emphasized that Tharoor’s concession underscores the success of India’s diplomatic approach, which has earned Modi the unique role of engaging with both sides without hostility.

This controversy adds to the internal strife within Congress, where Tharoor has recently faced backlash for his praise of PM Modi and Kerala’s LDF government, as well as for questioning his future role in the party. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla further commented, expressing hope that Rahul Gandhi will refrain from taking action against Tharoor for his supportive remarks toward the Prime Minister.