BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda on Monday took a sharp jab at the Congress during a Lok Sabha discussion on ‘Operation Sindoor’, claiming the party was not allowing one of its most articulate members, Shashi Tharoor, to speak.
Panda remarked, “There are several leaders in your (Congress) party who can speak well... My friend Shashi Tharoor Ji, who is a good speaker, is not allowed to speak by his party,” suggesting that the Congress leadership was sidelining Tharoor despite his past contributions in Parliament.
Sources indicated that the Congress had asked Tharoor, its MP from Thiruvananthapuram, if he wanted to participate in the debate, but he declined.
His decision has led to speculation, particularly after his vocal support for the government's response to the Pahalgam terror attack reportedly strained his ties with the party.
Panda, who represents Kendrapara in Odisha and was part of a multi-party delegation sent abroad to present India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism, accused successive Congress governments of compromising India’s interests. He alleged that past regimes prioritised diplomatic engagement with Pakistan over strong retaliatory action.
Speaking on Operation Sindoor, Panda emphasised that it was a targeted strike on terrorists in Pakistan and not on civilians. “This is not a reaction, this is Modi's doctrine, which Pakistan has understood... This is a new normal,” he said. He also criticised the opposition for questioning the Indian armed forces instead of holding Pakistan accountable.
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda also participated in the debate, taking aim at the government. He called for India to stop playing cricket with Pakistan during the ongoing Operation Sindoor and demanded modernisation of the armed forces and an increase in defence spending.
Hooda further raised concerns over the silence from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims of mediating between India and Pakistan. He argued that the government must clarify its stance on US involvement and suggested a symbolic response, saying either Trump’s claims should be publicly denied or US companies like McDonald's should be shut down in India.
He also called for the government to disclose details of the ceasefire with Pakistan and criticised its failure to prevent financial assistance to Pakistan from global institutions such as the IMF and the Asian Development Bank.