Shashi Tharoor shrugs off Congress criticism while leading India’s anti-terror delegation

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is leading an all-party delegation on India’s anti-terror outreach mission across the Americas. The delegation has already visited Panama, Guyana, and Colombia, and arrived in Brazil on Sunday. After completing the Brazil leg, the group will travel to the United States to continue its diplomatic efforts. The delegation’s goal is to communicate India’s firm stance of zero tolerance against terrorism to the countries visited.

Tharoor addressed criticism originating from India, including from members of his own party, regarding his role in the delegation. He stated that in a thriving democracy, criticism is expected, but emphasized the need to focus on the mission at hand. Tharoor said, “At this point, we can’t afford to dwell on it… right now we’re focused on the countries we’re coming to and getting the message out to the people here.”

The Congress party had expressed dissatisfaction with the central government’s appointment of Tharoor to lead the delegation. The party claimed that the names it had proposed for the delegation were ignored by the government. This internal disagreement within Congress highlighted tensions about participation in the government-led initiative.

Congress MP Jairam Ramesh made critical remarks about the government’s efforts to combat terrorism, stating, “Our MPs are roaming and terrorists are also roaming.” This statement was strongly condemned by BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla, who called the remarks “shameful, condemnable, and senseless.” Poonawalla demanded that the Privileges Committee of Parliament take immediate action against Ramesh.

The delegation’s visit is part of India’s broader diplomatic strategy to strengthen international cooperation on counterterrorism. By engaging with governments in the Americas, India aims to build support for its position and promote global security measures against terrorism. The delegation’s travels reflect ongoing efforts to maintain international partnerships in the face of global security challenges.