Udit Raj’s remarks: BJP defends Tharoor, says he put India first, not Gandhi family

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday alleged that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is facing internal attacks from his own party at the behest of senior leader Rahul Gandhi, following the Thiruvananthapuram MP's commitment to national interest over party lines in the global arena.

The BJP’s remarks come in the wake of Congress leader Udit Raj criticising Tharoor for his reported statement at an event in Panama. Tharoor is leading a multi-party delegation to five nations following Operation Sindoor, an Indian military action. Raj took issue with Tharoor's alleged claim that India had breached the Line of Control for the first time during the 2016 surgical strikes on a terror camp.

Udit Raj demands BJP spokesperson status for Tharoor

In a scathing comment, Udit Raj said, “Tharoor should immediately be made the super spokesperson of the BJP,” accusing the senior Congress leader of demeaning the party’s historical legacy.

Poonawalla: Congress ‘deploying’ Raj at Gandhi's direction

Reacting strongly, BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla accused the Congress of orchestrating an internal offensive against Tharoor under Rahul Gandhi’s instructions. “Shashi Tharoor is being attacked at the behest of Rahul Gandhi because Shashi Tharoor kept India first, not (Gandhi) family,” Poonawalla told PTI.

He added: “He talked about national interest, not his party's interest. He is being attacked because he kept national policy above the vote bank (politics).”

Accusations of double standards on Pakistan

The BJP spokesperson further questioned the Congress’s sincerity, pointing out contradictions between the party’s stated support for India’s armed forces and its internal conduct. “The Congress, which is launching missiles at its own leader, won't say a word against Pakistan,” Poonawalla alleged.

He referenced recent remarks by Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, who reportedly termed Operation Sindoor a “chut-put yuddh” (sporadic skirmish), suggesting the Congress was indirectly providing a “clean chit” to Pakistan over the April 22 terror strike in Pahalgam.

Poonawalla concluded, “Today, the Congress, while talking like Pakistan's DG ISPR (Ahmed Sharif Choudhry), is launching missiles at its own leader (Shashi Tharoor). It won't say a word against Pakistan. It will give clean chit to Pakistan.”

With PTI inputs