KKN Gurugram Desk | A second prominent Congress leader has broken ranks with the party line to publicly praise the Modi government. After Shashi Tharoor, now senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Anand Sharma has supported the Centre’s move to send a multi-party parliamentary delegation abroad to raise awareness on cross-border terrorism and Operation Sindoor—India’s military response to the recent Pahalgam terror attack.

Sharma described the decision as a “strategically important initiative”, directly contradicting the Congress party’s official stance, which had labeled the move as a political distraction.

 The Context: Terror in Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor

Earlier this month, a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam (Jammu & Kashmir) claimed multiple lives, triggering widespread national and international condemnation. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor, a military counteroffensive targeting terror launchpads across the LoC (Line of Control), particularly those allegedly backed by Pakistan’s ISI and military establishment.

In the aftermath of this operation, the Modi government proposed sending a multi-party delegation of MPs to foreign capitals, including Cairo (Egypt), Doha (Qatar), and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), to highlight India’s position on terrorism and expose Pakistan’s global narrative.

Anand Sharma: “The World Must Understand What India Faces”

In an interview with The Indian Express, Anand Sharma explained why he supported the government’s decision:

“Our region has long suffered due to cross-border terrorism. It is essential to sensitize global opinion on this issue. Terrorist groups nurtured by Pakistan’s army and ISI have shed a lot of Indian blood. And yet, India has exercised restraint—a trait few countries can display under such pressure.”

Sharma emphasized that the delegation’s goal is not political but rather a diplomatic effort to create global consensus against terror.

🇮🇳 Congress Party’s Official Stand: “It’s a Distraction”

While Sharma and Tharoor have supported the move, the Congress high command appears dissatisfied. On Wednesday, party spokesperson and MP Jairam Ramesh strongly criticized the initiative.

“This is a deflection tactic. The government is sending MPs abroad to escape uncomfortable questions at home,” Ramesh said.

He further pointed out that since 1950, it had been a tradition to send multi-party Indian delegations to the United Nations General Assembly in October, but Prime Minister Modi had discontinued it in 2014.

“Now that his global image is dented and his credibility shaken, he wants to revive this tradition for damage control,” Ramesh claimed.

 Anand Sharma to Visit Egypt, Qatar, and Ethiopia

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that Anand Sharma is the only Congress nominee accepted for the delegation, despite four names being proposed by the party.

 Scheduled Visits:

• Egypt – Regional counter-terror cooperation talks

• Qatar – Addressing diaspora and diplomatic engagement

• Ethiopia – Strategic discussion with African Union representatives

The visit will involve briefings with foreign governments, media interactions, and civil society engagements, focusing on Pakistan’s support for terrorism, especially in Kashmir.

 Congress’ Internal Divide: A Growing Rift?

This latest praise from Sharma comes on the heels of Shashi Tharoor’s continued public support for the Modi government’s handling of the Pahalgam incident and its global communication strategy. Despite apparent internal communications urging restraint, Tharoor has not backed down, and now Anand Sharma’s endorsement further exposes a divide within the party.

Political analysts suggest that such public contradictions within the Congress could be indicative of:

• Ideological divergence within senior leadership

• Growing frustration with the party’s strategic direction

• Potential moderate faction seeking constructive engagement on national security

 What the Modi Government is Trying to Achieve

The primary objective of the government’s delegation is to:

• Expose Pakistan’s double standards on terrorism globally

• Strengthen India’s diplomatic presence in the Middle East and Africa

• Counter misinformation and propaganda being spread in global forums

• Garner support for India’s counter-terror operations post-Pahalgam

By including members from multiple parties, the Modi government aims to project national unity on the issue of terrorism.

 Past Precedents of Parliamentary Delegations

India has a history of sending multi-party delegations abroad for:

• UN General Assembly visits

• Global climate summits

• Cultural exchange and diplomatic missions

However, this practice saw a sharp decline after 2014, as the Modi administration opted for direct, executive-level diplomacy. This marks a return to traditional parliamentary diplomacy—perhaps driven by geopolitical necessity.

 Public and Media Reactions

The public response has been mixed:

 Supporters say:

• It’s time India takes its counter-terrorism narrative globally

• Involving opposition MPs builds credibility on international platforms

• It reflects a confident and inclusive foreign policy approach

 Critics argue:

• It’s an attempt to distract from domestic criticism

• The opposition’s inclusion is tokenistic

• India should focus on internal challenges, not overseas PR

 Analysis: Is This the Start of a New Bipartisan Foreign Policy?

The positive reception of Anand Sharma’s and Tharoor’s statements from even apolitical quarters suggests a growing appetite for consensus on national security and global diplomacy, regardless of party lines.

In a polarized political environment, such rare endorsements from the opposition could:

• Help India speak with one voice internationally

• Open the door for bipartisan consensus on foreign policy

• Put pressure on parties to prioritize national interest over political narratives

However, it also presents a challenge for the Congress high command, which may need to reassess its internal messaging discipline to avoid public contradictions.

The Modi government’s decision to send a multi-party delegation overseas has created political ripples at home, but it is also being hailed as a bold diplomatic move aimed at reclaiming India’s narrative on terrorism.

With senior Congress leaders like Anand Sharma and Shashi Tharoor siding with the initiative, the government finds itself with unexpected allies, even as its critics continue to call it a political smokescreen.

As India steps up its global outreach post-Operation Sindoor, the world—and the country—will be watching not just how India responds to terrorism, but how united its leaders remain in projecting that response.

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