Hyderabad: The Telangana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday accused the Congress party of putting partisan politics above national interest, following its opposition to senior Congress MP Dr. Shashi Tharoor being named as head of an international outreach delegation to explain the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
BJP state chief spokesperson and media in-charge N.V. Subash criticized Congress communication head Jairam Ramesh for publicly objecting to the Modi government’s decision to nominate Tharoor, one of Congress’s most respected parliamentarians, as one of the seven leaders heading delegations to various countries.
“At a time when India needs to speak in one voice and present a united front to the global community, it is unfortunate that the Congress leadership is more interested in scoring political points,” Subash said.
“Instead of appreciating the Modi government’s inclusive approach in choosing Dr. Tharoor—an internationally respected diplomat and seasoned parliamentarian—Congress chose to attack its own.”
Highlighting a precedent from the past, Subash recalled that former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao of the Congress had once nominated BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee to represent India at the United Nations General Assembly. “That was statesmanship—rising above party lines for the sake of the nation. Today’s Congress, sadly, has forgotten that legacy,” he said.
Dr. Tharoor, a former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, served nearly three decades in the world body as a peacekeeper, refugee coordinator, and senior administrator. He currently chairs the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. “His global stature and foreign policy expertise make him an ideal choice to represent India,” Subash added.
The controversy erupted after the Centre announced a seven-member delegation, comprising leaders from across party lines—to engage with foreign governments and explain the background of the recent conflict with Pakistan. The teams will be led by:
• Dr. Shashi Tharoor (Indian National Congress)
• Ravi Shankar Prasad (Bharatiya Janata Party)
• Sanjay Kumar Jha (Janata Dal-United)
• Baijayant Panda (Bharatiya Janata Party)
• Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam)
• Supriya Sule (Nationalist Congress Party)
• Kirron Kher (Bharatiya Janata Party)
The names were officially announced by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju. Congress objected, stating that it had proposed alternative names, including Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. However, Subash emphasized that the final decision on such appointments rests solely with the government of the day.
“Even within Congress, some leaders reportedly questioned why Jairam Ramesh made this internal list public, knowing well that the nominations are a government prerogative,” he said.
The BJP asserted that the Congress’s public disapproval of Tharoor’s appointment reveals internal contradictions and a tendency to politicize even matters of national significance. “When push comes to shove, Congress fails the national interest test every single time,” Subash concluded.
