Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has drawn sharp criticism from within his own party after claiming that India had never crossed the Line of Control (LoC) before the 2015 surgical strikes under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. Tharoor, currently leading one of the Indian parliamentary delegations that has been tasked to expose Pakistan's hand in Pahalgam terror attack, made the remarks during an address to the Indian community in Panama on Wednesday.
Speaking at the Indian Embassy in Panama to an audience of 300, Tharoor stated, "What has changed in recent years is that terrorists have realised they will pay a price. For the first time, India breached the LoC to conduct a surgical strike on a terror launch pad in September 2015—something we had not done before. Even during Kargil, we did not cross the LoC. Later, after Pulwama in 2019, we went beyond the LoC and international border, striking Balakot and terror bases in Pakistan’s Punjabi heartland."
His comments triggered a strong backlash from fellow Congress leader Udit Raj, who took to social media to accuse Tharoor of distorting history. "Alas! I could prevail upon PM Modi to declare you as the BJP’s super spokesperson, even naming you foreign minister before landing in India," Raj wrote sarcastically. "How could you denigrate Congress’s golden history by claiming India never crossed the LoC before Modi?"
He further countered Tharoor’s assertion, citing historical military actions, "In 1965, the Indian Army entered Pakistan at multiple points, surprising them in Lahore. In 1971, we split Pakistan into two. Even during the UPA government, surgical strikes occurred—but we didn’t beat drums for political gain. How could you be so dishonest to the party that gave you so much?"
Tharoor, who lately found himself at odds with the Congress leadership, has not yet responded to Raj’s remarks.
