BJP Mocks Congress As Tharoor Admits 'Error' Over India's Ukraine Stance: 'Will Leave Rahul Gandhi Red-Faced'

The BJP seized the opportunity to mock the Congress after its MP, Shashi Tharoor, admitted he was left with "egg on his face" for opposing India's neutral stance on the Ukraine-Russia war, suggesting it would leave Rahul Gandhi "red-faced."

BJP leaders remarked that it was "good to see" Congress members acknowledging Prime Minister Narendra Modi's global influence and expressed hope that the party would not "act against" Tharoor for his candid praise of the government's foreign policy.

Photo Credit: PTI

Leading the charge, BJP leader and former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that PM Modi's vision for India and international affairs was gaining recognition even among political rivals.

"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, though he did not elaborate on his claim.

It is worth noting that economist Raghuram Rajan is not affiliated with any political party and served as the RBI governor from 2013 to 2016.

Meanwhile, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya suggested that Tharoor's comments would create turmoil within the Congress and leave Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi "red-faced."

"This will likely leave Rahul Gandhi red-faced, with the Congress media department scrambling to clarify that Shashi Tharoor's remarks reflect his personal views - not the party's official stance - despite Tharoor having led the party's charge on the issue in Parliament," Malviya posted on social media.

What Did Shashi Tharoor Say?

Praising PM Modi's diplomatic approach for the second time in a month, Tharoor, speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, admitted he had been wrong in criticising India's stance on the Ukraine conflict.

The Kerala MP, who previously served as Minister of State for External Affairs, highlighted how India's balanced position had enabled PM Modi to maintain strong relations with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"I am still wiping the egg off my face because I am one person in the parliamentary debate who actually criticised the Indian position in February 2022... the policy has meant that India actually has a prime minister who can hug both the president of Ukraine and the president in Moscow two weeks apart and be accepted in both places," Tharoor remarked.

Unlike Western and European leaders, PM Modi has refrained from taking sides in the conflict, instead advocating that India stands "on the side of peace."

In February, Tharoor had also praised PM Modi's visit to the United States, calling its outcomes "very good," a statement that reportedly displeased the Congress leadership.

Reaffirming his views on India's diplomatic position, Tharoor told news agency ANI, "The comments speak for themselves. Nothing to add."

He also commented on India's role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, advising a cautious approach. "At this stage, I'm not aware of India having been asked to do anything," he stated. Referring to former US President Donald Trump's involvement, he added, "President Trump has taken the lead in talking to the Russians about this," suggesting that India should "just watch and wait" unless specifically invited to mediate.

Tharoor acknowledged India's "very long record in peacekeeping" and noted that the country had always been available "for constructive purposes, for peace." However, he stressed that any participation would depend on "what kind of agreement this is and what is required in policing it."