NEW DELHI: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has reportedly opted out of participating in the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor, despite being requested directly by the party leadership. Sources indicate that Tharoor conveyed his unwillingness to speak to Congress Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi, who approached him on the instructions of Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi.

The move comes amid ongoing controversy over Tharoor’s remarks on Operation Sindoor- the central government’s response to the Pahalgam terror attack. During an overseas delegation tour comprising members of both the ruling and opposition camps, Tharoor had lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of the situation, drawing criticism from within Congress. Several leaders reportedly questioned his loyalty to the party following those comments.

Although Congress had nominated other MPs for the all-party delegation, the government selected Tharoor to head the visits to the United States, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia. His remarks supporting the government’s actions are said to have fuelled internal rifts, with some colleagues accusing him of crossing the party’s “Lakshman Rekha” by deviating from its official stance.

Debates on Operation Sindoor and the Pahalgam attack began in Parliament today, with senior leaders from both the ruling NDA and the opposition INDIA bloc taking part. In the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and Gaurav Gogoi are leading the opposition’s interventions.