Thiruvanathapuram (Kerala), May 15, 2025 (ANI): On Congress party's reported remarks - ‘not party’s opinion’ and ‘Lakshman Rekha’ over his stance regarding Operation Sindoor, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said,"...At this time, at a time of conflict, I spoke as an Indian. I never pretended to speak for anyone else. I am not a spokesperson for the party. I am not the government spokesperson. Whatever I have said, you may agree or disagree with that, blame it on me individually, and that's fine. I made it very clear that I am expressing my personal views. It was really a contribution to the national discourse, at a time when it was very important for us to rally around the flag, especially internationally. There was a relative lack of our point of view being heard, particularly in the US, Europe, and the Middle East... People are entirely free to reject my point of view. I have received no communication from the party; all I am seeing is media reports...".
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00:00I don't know where this comes from. I was in a meeting, a closed-door meeting of the Congress Working Committee leaders yesterday,
00:05and I make it very clear, sometimes explicitly, sometimes implicitly, that I'm expressing my personal views as an Indian, as a proud citizen,
00:12and certainly don't forget that my own party had declared complete solidarity with the government and the armed forces at the beginning of this conflict,
00:19and in that spirit I also express that support.
00:22All I can say is, I don't honestly see the need for much of this controversy, but on one issue, we're all Indians,
00:29and at this time, at the time of conflict, I spoke as an Indian, and I never pretended to speak for anyone else.
00:36I'm not a spokesman of the party, I'm not a spokesman of the government.
00:39I don't know where this comes from. I was in a meeting, a closed-door meeting of the Congress Working Committee leaders yesterday.
00:44I was there till 6.35 for a meeting that began at 4.30, and I must say that in that time there was certainly no reference to any of this,
00:52and no reference to me. Now, if something happened thereafter, I am yet to be informed of it, so when I'm informed, I will react.
00:59I don't see much point in reacting to something of which there has been no official communication to me of any kind,
01:04nor any discussion of which I was a part.
01:06So, Jair Ramamesh said that, you know, whenever you speak, it should not be to just parties.
01:12But he's correct. He's absolutely correct. I made it very clear I'm not a spokesman of the party.
01:17I'm not a spokesman of the government either, I might add.
01:19I'm, you know, for whatever it's worth, people seem to think I have some knowledge about some of these subjects,
01:24and so they come and ask me my views.
01:26And I make it very clear, sometimes explicitly, sometimes implicitly,
01:30that I'm expressing my personal views as an Indian, as a proud citizen,
01:33and certainly don't forget that my own party had declared complete solidarity with the government
01:38and the armed forces at the beginning of this conflict, and in that spirit I also express that support.
01:43To my mind, it was merely a contribution to a very important national discourse
01:49at a time when, frankly, it was important for us to rally around the flag.
01:55There were, especially internationally, there was a relative lack of our point of view being heard,
02:02particularly in Europe, the Middle East, the US, and so on.
02:05And when stations from those countries approached me, I felt it was almost my duty to try and give a point of view
02:13that I believe accurately reflects my understanding anyway of what India believes, stands for, and would have done.
02:20Now, I'm not any way official.
02:23I mean, I am a chairman of a standing committee, but we have not yet been briefed.
02:26Our briefing is coming on Monday.
02:27So, I have no access to any special classified information or anything.
02:32I'm giving my personal opinion as somebody who has been witnessing and watching
02:36World Affairs from close quarters for a very long time.
02:39That's about it.
02:39And, frankly, people are entirely free and welcome to reject my point of view.
02:43This is my point of view, that's all.
02:45To which I am, I believe, entitled in Islam.
02:47So, Sudan has already come out again today that he is not happy about being, you know, removed from the poor.
02:52And there was a speculation that you should be speaking to Sudan and to pacify him.
02:55Is there anything happening with that?
02:56I actually have not spoken to him recently.
02:58I did speak to him the day that he was withdrawn and that he moved.
03:02And at that time, we had a very amicable conversation.
03:05As far as this is concerned, it is a decision of the leadership of the party, the so-called high command.
03:11And when we as individual members of the party were asked our opinions, we gave our opinions.
03:16But now that the decision has been taken, I see no point in redoubling down on any of this from my point of view.
03:21I have given my view.
03:23Now the party has taken a decision.
03:24We must move on.
03:25It's as simple as that.
03:26You said you were in that meeting yesterday.
03:27Nothing of this sort was discussed.
03:29But today, news reports or reports are coming out.
03:32On the basis of what?
03:33So, that's all.
03:34You know, you all went to journalism school.
03:37Aren't you supposed to have some basic evidence, facts and figures, who, what, where, why, when, et cetera?
03:41Tell me who, what, where, why, when.
03:43Then I have not received any communication to this effect.
03:46All I'm seeing is media reports.
03:47And frankly, if I want to base all my life and all my statements and all my reactions on media reports, I would really not be able to do very much else.
03:55Do you think you're being targeted in some way?
03:56Because you folks tell me, am I in your crosshairs?
04:02I don't know.
04:03Look, look, as far as I'm concerned, I'm trying to do my work.
04:06I have a lot of engagements in the constituency this evening, which is why I'm here.
04:10And I should be allowed to go on and meet them.
04:12All I can say is I don't honestly see the need for much of this controversy.
04:16But on one issue, we are all Indians.
04:19And at this time, at the time of conflict, I spoke as an Indian.
04:23And I never pretended to speak for anyone else.
04:25I'm not a spokesman of the party.
04:27I'm not a spokesman of the government.
04:29Whatever you agree or disagree of what I said, blame it on me individually and that's fine.
04:32Sir, there's one last question on this ongoing escalation in the borders.
04:37Today also there is, you know, fighting going on between the terrorists and the Indian army.
04:42So how do you see this?
04:43How, whether it will be of India's interest to continue this or it will be, you know?
04:47Look, terrorism has to be resisted.
04:49On that, the country is united.
04:52Even on Pehelgaan, the government has apparently identified at least three, possibly four of the five perpetrators.
04:58And they have vowed they will go after these people whenever, wherever they will get them.
05:02And I'm 100% supporting the government on such a decision.
05:06So my situation at the moment is we don't have more information than you in the media are telling us.
05:13If there are terrorist attacks on our country in any shape or form, we should support the government to deal with it.
05:18Terrorism is an inhumane, cruel, absolutely outrageous way of trying to settle any political differences.
05:25And we should certainly strongly resist it.
05:29Beyond that, the matter is in the hands of the government.
05:32I would wait to hear from the authorities if they succeed in eliminating some terrorists.
05:37We'll hear about that.
05:38If they have any other actions to tell us, we'll wait and see.
05:42To my mind, at this point, the main international engagement which involved striking Pakistan and Pakistan attempting to strike us,
05:52all of that is certainly, as far as I know, is over or is on pause mode.
05:57And therefore, I don't want to stir up any further anxiety.
06:00Terrorism is a different matter.
06:02You go after the terrorists.
06:03We're all with the government.
06:04Terrorism is a different matter.