NEW DELHI — A major political row has erupted following the G7 Summit after senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor publicly backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic intervention with US President Donald Trump. Tharoor’s validation of the Prime Minister’s handling of the delicate Indian seafarer safety issue ran counter to official Congress allegations, prompting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to claim that Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi stands “exposed” by his own party colleague.
The controversy stems from a high-profile bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Trump—their first in 16 months—held on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France.
Tharoor Defends Prime Minister’s Advocacy for Sailors
Defending the Prime Minister’s diplomatic engagement, Tharoor emphasized that PM Modi successfully and clearly communicated India’s deep anxieties regarding the vulnerabilities of merchant navy crews caught in volatile Middle Eastern conflict zones.
Key points raised by Tharoor in support of the administration include:
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Civilian Immunity in Conflict: Tharoor noted that the Prime Minister made it clear in both public statements and closed-door sessions that commercial, civilian seafarers are not combatants and must never be targeted during wartime blockades.
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Protection of Indian Nationals: Highlighting the sheer volume of Indian nationals working on international and Indian-flagged vessels, Tharoor argued that alternative maritime enforcement methods must be utilized rather than lethal kinetic strikes.
The Domestic Political Backlash
The friction intensified because the Congress party had launched a scathing attack on the Prime Minister just days prior. The opposition accused PM Modi of maintaining a “silent” and weak stance during his meeting with Trump, specifically pointing out a lack of public condemnation or a formal demand for an apology following a US strike in the Gulf of Oman that resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers.
The BJP swiftly capitalized on Tharoor’s bipartisan remarks to target the Congress high command:
“Shashi Tharoor has exposed Rahul Gandhi. Congress leaders are openly praising PM Modi’s diplomacy! When it comes to protecting India’s national interest, PM Modi comes first,” stated BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari on social media platform X.
G7 Bilateral Context
During the Evian meeting, PM Modi aggressively flagged the security parameters of the thousands of Indian seafarers operating across critical choke points like the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Gulf region. While the discussions involved hard corporate and geopolitical posturing—with President Trump famously characterising the Indian Prime Minister as a “tough negotiator” and a “good-looking guy”—the primary focus remained anchored to safeguarding India’s massive maritime workforce.
