Shashi Tharoor Recalls Chilling Survivor Account from Pahalgam Attack
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, while addressing the Indian community in Washington, DC, poignantly recounted a harrowing moment during the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. A woman, witnessing her husband's death at the hands of terrorists, cried out "kill me too." The attackers, however, denied her plea and instructed her to return and share the story.
Purpose of the All-Party Delegation
Leading an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, Mr. Tharoor emphasized that the primary objective of the visit to the United States was to communicate the recent challenges India has faced and to seek international solidarity in combating terrorism.
He remarked, "The purpose of our visit was simple: to explain what we've endured over the past weeks due to the horrific Pahalgam attack and to gain support and understanding in our fight against terrorism."
Positive Reception from US Lawmakers
Mr. Tharoor reported strong and bipartisan support from US legislators during several engagements, stating that members of Congress took time from their demanding schedules, including Senate voting sessions, to meet with the delegation.
The MP highlighted the strategic partnership between India and the US as genuine and active, reflecting a shared commitment to mutual issues such as counterterrorism.
Unconditional Support Against Terrorism
Addressing concerns about potential skepticism, Mr. Tharoor noted, "We anticipated possible pushback or questions, but instead found unconditional support in our struggle against terrorism."
Diversity of the Delegation and Contrast with Terrorist Motives
The delegation comprised seven MPs from five political parties and eight states, representing three different religions and accompanied by current and former Indian ambassadors to the US.
Mr. Tharoor emphasized this diversity to counter the divisive intent behind the Pahalgam attack, where terrorists targeted victims based on their religion, attempting to sow communal discord.
He stated, "The terrorists attempted to make religion a factor by questioning victims' faith before executing them, explicitly sending a message to survivors to spread their divisive agenda."
Call to Indian Diaspora for Active Engagement
Speaking directly to the Indian community abroad, Mr. Tharoor urged them to continue voicing their concerns to elected representatives in the US, underscoring their influence and importance.
"Your engagement matters. When you communicate your priorities to your lawmakers, it shapes policies affecting you, your families, and India," he affirmed.
Delegation Composition and Context
- Shashi Tharoor (Congress)
- Shambhavi Chaudhary (Lok Janshakti Party)
- Sarfaraz Ahmed (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha)
- G M Harish Balayogi (Telugu Desam Party)
- Shashank Mani Tripathi (BJP)
- Tejaswi Surya (BJP)
- Bhubaneswar Kalita (BJP)
- Mallikarjun Devda (Shiv Sena)
- Milind Deora (Shiv Sena)
- Current and former Indian Ambassadors to the US
The visit is part of India's diplomatic outreach initiative known as Operation Sindoor, launched in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
