Himanta Biswa Sarma Lauds Opposition Leaders Tharoor, Owaisi, and Sule for Defending India Abroad, Slams Rahul Gandhi for “Tarnishing” Nation’s Image
In an unexpected gesture of cross-party appreciation, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday commended several opposition leaders, including senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule, for representing and defending India’s interests on international platforms with grace and dignity.
Speaking during a discussion in the Assam Legislative Assembly on the success of the recent military campaign dubbed ‘Operation Sindoor’, Sarma said that these opposition leaders, despite political differences, had showcased commendable patriotism during official visits abroad, standing firm in defence of India’s position.
“I would like to thank leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Asaduddin Owaisi, and Supriya Sule. Despite being in the opposition, they upheld India’s honour during international engagements. They chose to speak for the country, not against it, and showed that political rivalry must not interfere with national interest,” Sarma said, as quoted by PTI.
However, the BJP leader drew a sharp contrast between these leaders and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Sarma accused Gandhi of “betraying the nation” by repeatedly casting doubts on the capabilities of India’s armed forces and the government’s response to terrorism, especially on foreign soil.
In his scathing criticism, Sarma alleged that Gandhi has habitually used international forums to question India’s democratic institutions and military strategy. “While Tharoor, Owaisi, and Sule stood for India abroad, Rahul Gandhi did not. He betrayed the armed forces by questioning their strength during critical times,” the chief minister claimed.
Sarma’s remarks come against the backdrop of multiple all-party delegations that have recently toured foreign nations as part of a central government anti-terrorism diplomatic initiative. These delegations were tasked with conveying India’s position and securing global support in combating terrorism.
The Assam CM expressed particular displeasure over Gandhi’s past statements regarding India’s military operations, including his recent comments on ‘Operation Sindoor’, a classified military strike that reportedly inflicted significant damage on enemy assets. According to Sarma, Gandhi’s queries focused on India’s losses rather than those inflicted on adversaries such as Pakistan.
“Rahul Gandhi’s obsession with questioning India’s losses during an ongoing operation was not only irresponsible but demoralising. He never cared to ask about the damage Pakistan suffered,” Sarma asserted.
The BJP leader further cited Gandhi’s controversial address at the University of Texas in the United States last year, where the Congress MP had made critical remarks about the Indian government’s handling of domestic and foreign affairs. According to Sarma, such comments on foreign soil amount to undermining India’s image and democratic credentials.
Most recently, Gandhi has targeted External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, accusing him of maintaining a “damning silence” regarding the number of Indian aircraft allegedly lost in Operation Sindoor. The Congress MP went a step further, claiming that the EAM had even alerted Pakistan about the operation’s launch—a charge that has sparked outrage among BJP leaders.
Himanta Biswa Sarma concluded his statement by urging all political leaders to rise above party lines when representing India abroad. “Healthy criticism is part of democracy. But when you go abroad, you must speak for India, not against it,” he said.
This public commendation of certain opposition figures by a prominent BJP leader is unusual in India’s intensely polarized political climate, and may signal a broader call for national unity on issues of foreign policy and national security.
