India’s diplomatic outreach on Operation Sindoor and the circumstances that led up to it will provide nations across the world an immediate understanding of the situation prevailing in South Asia. Condemnation of terrorism needs to be unequivocal, and an environment needs to be developed that leaves no room for it to flourish under the patronage of nations and governments. At the same time, the delegations will also be obtaining important feedback from their interactions with functionaries of other nations which will provide a glimpse of where India is positioned in their worldview. This will be different from the carefully worded diplomatic interactions that take place in the normal course.
It is not just the Indian government that will benefit from what is learned, but also the political parties whose representatives have been sent on the campaign. This should help in the development of a coherent national policy over and above political divisions. It is strange, therefore, that the Congress Party is not only challenging the overall narrative but also castigating its own representative, Shashi Tharoor, for forcefully presenting India’s point of view. The party leadership does need to make the distinction between global and domestic politics.
The Congress may be unhappy with what it sees as Prime Minister Modi’s attempt to take credit for the Armed Forces’ success, but it cannot overlook the fact that the political leadership does play a major role in determining how such crises are to be handled. Even the history of the Congress reflects both failure and success attributable to its prime ministers. Nehru’s catastrophic handling of the war with China in 1962 may have been because of his lack of experience in such matters and his misplaced idealism, but it was his responsibility. In contrast, Indira Gandhi’s leadership of the nation during the Bangladesh Liberation War was exemplary, something the party can and does take pride in. Even in the present, in the bid to diminish Modi’s image, senior Congress leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi are downplaying the success of Operation Sindoor. It would be better if, when given the opportunity, they take a share of the credit for defending India by appreciating Tharoor’s role in the diplomatic outreach. They should not play into the hands of the BJP simply because they cannot overcome their visceral hatred of Modi. They should pursue their ideological agenda with dignity and grace, as the people appreciate that instead of petty-minded nitpicking. In the long run, that will serve them better.
