Shashi Tharoor / 'India does not need any third party'- Shashi Tharoor said on Rahul Gandhi's statement

Shashi Tharoor: Amid the success of India's recent 'Operation Sindoor' and the diplomatic efforts related to it, opposition leader Rahul Gandhi has created a new political controversy by accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "surrender". Congress leader and senior diplomat Shashi Tharoor, reacting to Rahul Gandhi's statement from the US capital Washington DC, called it beyond facts.

Shashi Tharoor's answer: "Never asked for mediation"

When Shashi Tharoor was asked during a press conference in Washington DC about the news of the US President's alleged mediation during the India-Pak conflict, he clearly said, "All we can say is that we have never asked anyone to mediate." He expressed respect for the US President, but clarified the Congress's position on the issue, saying that India does not need any third party.

"Talks are possible only if Pakistan breaks the structure of terror"

Tharoor also added in his response that India has always been in favor of peace, but talks are possible only when Pakistan takes concrete steps. He said, "If they (Pakistan) dismantle the terrorist infrastructure and show signs of improving relations, we can talk to them directly — no mediator is needed for this."

Rahul Gandhi's statement: 'Trump's call and Modi's surrender'

Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Modi while launching the Congress' 'Sangthan Srujan Abhiyan'. He said that in 1971, Indira Gandhi did not bow down to US pressure, while now the Modi government "bowed" on a phone call from US President Trump. Describing it as the alleged cowardice of the BJP-RSS, he said, "Gandhi, Nehru, Patel never surrendered, but the BJP-RSS has a history of writing surrender letters."

BJP's counter-attack: "Insult to the army and the country"

BJP strongly protested against Rahul Gandhi's statement. Party spokesperson Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi called it an insult to the armed forces and the country. He said that "Rahul Gandhi's statement is not only an attack on the Modi government, but also an attempt to undermine the success of 'Operation Sindoor'." Comparing Rahul to the leaders of Pakistan, he said that he has made a more irresponsible statement than the military and terrorist leaders of Pakistan.