Congress MP Manish Tewari stirred political waters with a cryptic X post quoting the patriotic song from the 1970 film Purab Aur Paschim—“Hai preet jahaan ki reet sada, main geet wahaan ke gaata hoon, Bharat ka rehne waala hoon, Bharat ki baat sunata hoon”—after being excluded from his party’s list of speakers for the Lok Sabha debate on Operation Sindoor.

The Chandigarh MP’s post, accompanied by a screenshot of a Moneycontrol report titled “‘Spoke in favour of govt’: Why Congress benched Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari during Operation Sindoor debate,” hinted at internal discord within the Congress over its handling of the high-stakes discussion.

Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, targeted nine terror hubs in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, neutralizing over 100 terrorists. The 16-hour parliamentary debate, spanning the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, has become a battleground for the BJP-led NDA and the opposition.

Congress has criticized alleged intelligence failures and questioned the operation’s transparency, with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi slamming the government’s foreign policy, citing U.S. President Donald Trump’s unverified claims of mediating a ceasefire, which the government has firmly rejected.

Tewari and Shashi Tharoor, both part of India’s diplomatic delegations to highlight the nation’s anti-terrorism stance post-operation, were notably absent from Congress’s speaker list. Sources indicate Tewari requested to speak, but the party opted for others, including Gaurav Gogoi and Priyanka Gandhi, to align with its critical stance against the government. Tharoor, who led a delegation to the U.S., reportedly declined to participate, preferring to address The Indian Ports Bill, 2025, amid tensions over his public support for the operation.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor: Electoral Ploy or National Security?

The exclusions have fueled speculation of factionalism. A Congress MP explained that the party chose new speakers to voice public concerns, as delegation members had “spoken in favor of the government” abroad. BJP leaders seized the opportunity, with Baijayant Panda mocking Congress for sidelining articulate voices like Tharoor.

Tewari’s post, ending with “Jai Hind,” was praised on X for its patriotic tone but also seen as a subtle jab at his party’s decision. The debate, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah defending the operation’s success, underscores deep political divides, with Congress’s internal strains now in the spotlight.

Also Read: Congress Questions Operation Sindoor’s Success in Fiery Lok Sabha Clash