Did Congress Bench Its Best Voices While PM Modi Seized the Moment?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- PM Modi effectively countered Congress's criticism.
- Internal divisions within Congress were prominently highlighted.
- Shashi Tharoor's silence raises questions about his leadership role.
- The BJP's strategic use of Tharoor underscores political maneuvering.
- Operation Sindoor debate reflects broader political dynamics.
New Delhi, July 29 (NationPress) What was anticipated to be a pivotal moment for the government transformed into a political setback for the Congress on Tuesday evening. As the Lok Sabha engaged in the discussion regarding Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shifted from defense to offense—and then some.
Rather than being put on the defensive, PM Modi leveraged his response to dismantle the Congress’s moral superiority, referencing both historical issues and current divisions within the venerable party. His address, rich in political history and strategic wit, targeted not only previous Congress administrations but also the party’s ongoing internal strife.
Without directly mentioning any individual, the Prime Minister made subtle references to Congress MPs like Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, and Amar Singh—senior figures who were instrumental in India’s global relations following Operation Sindoor, yet noticeably absent during the parliamentary discourse.
"Some aren’t permitted to express themselves in Parliament... some protest even when you commend India," PM Modi remarked—a not-so-subtle indication of the discord between the Congress leadership and members like Tharoor, whose public acknowledgment of the government's actions has led to internal controversy.
Interestingly, although Congress opted not to include Tharoor in its international outreach delegation, the BJP-led government had no such qualms, appointing him to lead missions to the United States and other nations. This decision not only raised eyebrows but also exacerbated the Congress's internal unease regarding Tharoor’s increasingly centrist, nation-first stance.
Tharoor, previously viewed as the party’s international representative, has maintained a diplomatic silence—quite literally. Despite speculation about whether he would contribute to the discussion on Operation Sindoor, he remained silent.
Meanwhile, Manish Tewari, another sidelined Congress figure in the Operation Sindoor outreach, expressed his sentiments—cryptically—on X.
"Hai preet jahaan ki reet sada, main geet wahaan ke gaata hoon…"
When prompted to clarify his message, Tewari simply stated, "If you don’t grasp my silence, you will never comprehend my words."
These underlying tensions were clearly perceived by PM Modi, who capitalized on the situation to underscore the Congress’s internal contradictions—a party, he suggested, that could not even support its own members when they advocated for India.