The Congress party is facing internal scrutiny after Manish Tewari, a prominent leader, was excluded from the list of speakers for the Operation Sindoor debate in Parliament. This exclusion, coupled with a cryptic social media post by Tewari, has fueled speculation about a potential rift within the party.
Operation Sindoor, a sensitive military operation, has become a focal point in the ongoing parliamentary session. While the government defends it as a decisive move against cross-border terrorism, the opposition has raised concerns about transparency and the handling of the situation. The debate in Parliament has been intense, with both sides presenting their arguments and questioning each other's stances.
Manish Tewari, along with Shashi Tharoor, another Congress leader, was part of the Indian delegations that were sent to various countries to highlight India's position against cross-border terrorism following Operation Sindoor. However, neither Tewari nor Tharoor were included in the list of Congress speakers for the debate. Sources suggest that Tharoor declined to participate due to potential disagreements with the party's stance on the issue.
Tewari, on the other hand, reportedly expressed his desire to speak during the debate. His exclusion has led to speculation about internal conflicts within the Congress party. Following the announcement of the speaker list, Tewari posted a cryptic message on social media, quoting a patriotic song: "Hai preet jahaan ki reet sada, main geet wahaan ke gaata hoon, Bharat ka rehne waala hoon, Bharat ki baat sunata hoon". This post has been interpreted as a subtle expression of his disappointment and a hint at being sidelined by the party.
The exclusion of senior leaders like Tewari and Tharoor from the debate has not gone unnoticed. BJP MP Baijayant Panda pointed out Tharoor's absence and suggested that the Congress leadership was preventing him from speaking freely. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also criticized the Congress party for allegedly not trusting the Indian External Affairs Minister's statements on the issue. He stated that the opposition's stance was the reason they would remain in the opposition for the next 20 years.
The Congress party has been allocated a limited amount of time to discuss Operation Sindoor in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. During the debate, Congress MP Praniti Shinde criticized the government's handling of the operation, calling it a "tamasha". Other opposition leaders have questioned the government's silence on certain aspects of the operation and demanded more clarity.
Despite the criticism and internal speculation, some Congress leaders have expressed support for India's stance against terrorism. Manish Tewari, speaking from Addis Ababa as part of an all-party delegation, emphasized the need for unity in the face of terrorism. He stated that when it comes to India's self-respect, everyone rises above party politics.
The controversy surrounding Manish Tewari's exclusion from the Operation Sindoor debate highlights the internal challenges and potential divisions within the Congress party. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how these internal dynamics will impact the party's overall strategy and its ability to effectively challenge the government.
