Shashi Tharoor, a prominent Congress MP, has opted to remain silent on the ongoing parliamentary debate surrounding "Operation Sindoor," a government-led initiative following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. This decision has stirred considerable discussion, especially given Tharoor's recent involvement in leading a parliamentary delegation to the United States and other countries to garner support for India after cross-border strikes on terror camps in Pakistan.

Sources indicate that the Congress party had approached Tharoor to speak during the debate on Operation Sindoor. However, he declined the offer, expressing his inability to align with the party's critical stance against the government regarding the operation. Instead, he showed interest in speaking on "The Indian Ports Bill, 2025". When reporters questioned him outside Parliament on Monday about his potential participation in the debate, Tharoor responded with a cryptic "Maunvrat, Maunvrat," which translates to a vow of silence, without elaborating further.

Tharoor's decision stems from his consistent belief that Operation Sindoor was a successful endeavor. He reportedly conveyed to the party that he would maintain his position and could not contradict his previous public statements supporting the operation. This stance has reportedly caused friction within the party, as Tharoor's apparent support for the government's actions clashes with the Congress party's line of criticism.

According to senior Congress leaders, it is customary to ask senior leaders if they are interested in speaking on major issues. Gaurav Gogoi and K Suresh reached out to Tharoor to speak during the debate on Operation Sindoor, but he expressed his disinterest and preference for speaking on the ports bill.

Tharoor's absence from the debate is particularly noteworthy considering his leadership of a crucial outreach delegation after the Pahalgam terror attack. This absence has fueled speculation about a widening internal rift between Tharoor and the Congress party. Sources suggest that after Tharoor asserted he would only speak in support of Operation Sindoor, the party decided not to include him in the debate.

The Congress party has been pressing for a full-fledged debate on the matter since the monsoon session began last week. As the Congress prepares to confront the BJP-led central government over Operation Sindoor, the party has reiterated its demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi be present in Parliament when the issue is discussed.

The Monsoon session is expected to focus on national security and foreign policy concerns. The session began at 11 AM but was temporarily adjourned minutes later due to disruptions by Opposition party MPs.