Kozhikode, Kerala: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday said that any concerns he has will be conveyed internally to the party leadership and not aired in public, asserting, “Whatever I have to say will be said within the party.”

Responding to questions about recent media reports suggesting differences with the Congress leadership, Tharoor said it was better to communicate issues directly within the organisation.

“It is better to convey concerns directly to the party leadership. Several things have appeared in the media, some of which may be true while others may not be, and that such matters should not be discussed on public platforms. I had informed the party in advance that I would not be attending the programme,” he said.

He also dismissed speculation surrounding the Ernakulam controversy. “I have nothing to say about the Ernakulam controversy. I had wished to release book at the event, but the book launch at the Jaipur Literature Festival had to be postponed due to political commitments. This is the reason I chose to attend the event in Kozhikode,” Tharoor said.

Speaking during a session at the Kerala Literature Festival, Tharoor asserted that he has never violated the party’s stated positions in Parliament, adding that his only public disagreement in principle was over Operation Sindoor. “I had taken a strong stand on that issue and remained unapologetic,” he said.

He explained that, as an observer and writer, he had penned a newspaper column after the Pahalgam incident stating that it should not go unpunished and that there should be a kinetic response. He added that while India is focused on development, it should not be dragged into a prolonged conflict with Pakistan and any action should be limited to targeting terrorist camps.

“To my surprise, the Indian government did exactly what I had recommended,” Tharoor said.

Quoting Jawaharlal Nehru, he added, “Who lives if India dies?” and stressed, “When India is at stake, when India's security and its place in the world are involved, India comes first.”

He said political parties may have differences in the process of building a better India, but when national interests are involved, India must prevail.