Congress silent over Tharoor's U-turn on India's Russia-Ukraine stance

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday justified his changed stand on the position taken by India in the Russia-Ukraine war issue and said he made his opinion as a "Bharatheeyan" and he doesn't see politics in that. The Congress leader on Tuesday conceded that he was left with an "egg on his face" in opposing India's stance when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out and said due to the policy that was adopted, the country is now in a position where it can make a difference for lasting peace.Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue on Tuesday, Tharoor had admitted that he had misjudged India's position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "I am still wiping the egg off my face because I was one of those who criticised India's position back in February 2022. Three years later, it turns out I was wrong. India now has a Prime Minister who can hug both the President of Ukraine and the President of Russia within two weeks and still be accepted in both places. That means India is in a position to make a difference to lasting peace," he said. He also suggested that if Russia and Ukraine agreed to peace, India might consider sending peacekeepers. Russia has rejected European peacekeepers from NATO countries, making India a possible alternative.
Tharoor had earlier criticised India's stance when Russia attacked Ukraine and called for condemnation of the aggression. Tharoor's change of stance has silenced the Congress and given new ammo to BJP.The BJP's Sambit Patra said the Congress should learn from Tharoor. "Shashi Tharoor understands diplomacy, he had been in the UN for a very long time. He has appreciated PM Modi's stand in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Other leaders of Congress should also learn from Shashi Tharoor instead of Speaking against PM Modi and the nation every time... Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi should come forward and appreciate Shashi Tharoor's stand," Patra told reporters.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Kerala BJP chief K Surendran said, "Dear Shashi Tharoor ji, I've always admired your candour. Your honesty in saying, 'I opposed it initially' and now praising Modiplomacy's success in Russia-Ukraine is commendable. Unlike your INC peers, you see India's global rise under PM Narendra Modi is truly a refreshing take".
"Better late than never... The way Shashi Tharoor has admitted, other leaders of Congress should do the same," senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said. BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya said the knives would be out in the Congress after Tharoor's remarks, which would likely leave Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi "red-faced".

Prime Minister Modi needs new haters… Old ones are turning into his fans. pic.twitter.com/emtQToK4Tc

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) March 19, 2025

BJP leader and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said PM Modi's vision for India and the world was even being admired by leaders from rival parties."Congress men, including Rahul (Gandhi), Chidambaram, Raghuram Rajan, are all having to eat their words (or egg on face) on economy, UPI, manufacturing and so much more," Chandrasekhar tweeted without elaborating on his charge.