Tharoor Clarifies J&K Visit: Not About Kashmir's Domestic Affairs Amid Party Flak

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor found himself at the center of a political storm after his remarks on "encouraging progress towards normalcy" in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting him to issue a swift clarification on Monday, June 22, 2026.

Tharoor asserted that his visit to the region, as part of the External Affairs Committee, was strictly focused on studying "Indo-Pak relations, Sino-Indian relations, and the functioning of passport offices and passport seva kendras" in J&K and Ladakh. He emphasized that the committee's mandate does not extend to assessing domestic conditions in the Kashmir Valley, stating, "We are not here to look at domestic matters; that is not our mandate. We are the External Affairs Committee."

His initial comments, made after a meeting with J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, were posted on X. He had mentioned discussing "the situation in the State and the encouraging progress towards normalcy," adding that he "left the meeting feeling more positive than I have felt for a while." This statement quickly drew criticism from within his own party.

Congress leader Pawan Khera reacted by suggesting Tharoor should engage with a broader spectrum of the population, including youth, businessmen, Kashmiri Pandits, and civilians, believing that such interactions would change his opinion. Similarly, J&K Congress chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma expressed reservations, highlighting that Tharoor "should have made some time to meet the people of the Kashmir Valley." Even ruling National Conference leader Shafqat Watali critiqued the perceived selective outreach.

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