'This is a time for us to focus on our mission': Shashi Tharoor on Congress colleagues' digs at him

On being asked about his party colleagues' criticisms against him over his remarks abroad, Tharoor, who is now in Brazil, told the media, "I think this is a time for us to focus on our mission. Undoubtedly, in a thriving democracy, there are bound to be comments and criticisms, but I think at this point we can't afford to dwell on them."

"When we get back to India, no doubt we'll have our chance to speak to our colleagues, critics, media there. But right now we're focused on the countries we're coming to and getting the message out to the people here," he added.

Earlier in a long post on X, Tharoor had sent out a strong message, saying "critics and trolls" were welcome to distort his views and that he has "better things to do".

Posting after a "long and successful day in Panama", and another full day ahead, Tharoor said he would still take time out "For those zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour across the LoC".

"After a long and successful day in Panama, i have to wind up at midnightvhere with departure for Bogota, Colombia in six hours, so I don’t really have time for this — but anyway: For those zealots fulminating about my supposed ignorance of Indian valour across the LoC: in the past

1. I was clearly and explicitly speaking only about reprisals for terrorist attacks and not about previous wars; &
2. My remarks were preceded by a reference to the several attacks that have taken place in recent years alone, during which previous Indian responses were both restrained and constrained by our responsible respect for the LoC and the IB," he wrote.

"But as usual, critics and trolls are welcome to distort my views and words as they see fit. I genuinely have better things to do. Goodnight," Tharoor signed off.

Shashi Tharoor's praise for the Narendra Modi government's response to terror attacks during the senior Congressman's visit to Panama as part of the outreach delegation did not go well with the grand old party.

Shortly after Tharoor praised India's retaliatory strikes since 2016, his party colleague Pawan Khera tagged him in a video in which former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says that many surgical strikes were conducted during the UPA era.

While Khera just added a "CC" to refer to Tharoor, the message was clear that the Congress is not happy.

The Indian government launched the global outreach programme in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and India's counter strike, Operation Sindoor.