Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday reaffirmed his stance on India’s diplomatic approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, stating that his previous remarks “speak for themselves” and that he had nothing further to add.
“The comments speak for themselves. Nothing to add,” Tharoor told ANI.
His response comes after his admission at the Raisina Dialogue that he had initially criticized India’s neutral position on the war but later acknowledged its strategic advantages.
During a panel discussion, Tharoor admitted to having to “wipe egg off his face” for opposing India’s stance in 2022, recognizing that New Delhi’s approach has positioned it uniquely as a friend to both Moscow and Kyiv.
“I am still wiping the egg off my face because I was one person in the parliamentary debate who actually criticised the Indian position at the time back in February 2022,” he said.
His remarks prompted a reaction from BJP leader Amit Malviya, who took a jibe at Congress, suggesting that Tharoor’s statement would embarrass Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
“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 X.
Explaining why he had initially condemned Russia’s invasion, Tharoor cited violations of the UN Charter, Ukraine’s sovereignty, and the principle of inviolability of borders.
“Three years later, it does look like I am the one with egg on my face because clearly, the policy has meant that India actually has a Prime Minister who can hug both the President of Ukraine and the President of Russia two weeks apart and be accepted in both places. India is in a position to contribute to a lasting peace in ways that very few countries can,” he added.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, global diplomatic efforts have been ongoing to negotiate a ceasefire. Former U.S. President Donald Trump recently claimed on Truth Social that he had “productive conversations” with Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding ending the war.
