Tharoor, Owaisi, Sule Spoke for India Abroad, But Rahul Gandhi Let the Country Down: Himanta Biswa Sarma

In a rare moment of praise for political opponents, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday lauded Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, and NCP’s Supriya Sule for defending India with dignity on international platforms.

However, Sarma didn’t hold back in criticizing Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of damaging India’s image abroad.

“I appreciate leaders like Shashi Tharoor, Asaduddin Owaisi, and Supriya Sule for standing up for India on foreign soil,” Sarma told reporters, according to PTI. “They represented the country with pride. But Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, did not. He has betrayed the nation and the armed forces.”

Sarma was referring to recent all-party delegations that visited several countries to highlight India’s anti-terror efforts. He accused Gandhi of repeatedly casting doubts on India’s military strength and criticizing the government’s handling of Pakistan.

Speaking in the state assembly about the success of ‘Operation Sindoor,’ Sarma said Gandhi focused solely on India’s losses in the conflict while ignoring the damage Pakistan suffered. “It’s normal to ask about losses after a conflict, but Gandhi questioned India’s losses while the operation was still underway. Yet, he never asked about Pakistan’s losses,” Sarma claimed.

Rahul Gandhi has often sparked controversy with his remarks abroad. Last year, at the University of Texas, he pointed out India’s employment challenges, contrasting them with countries like China and Vietnam, which he said don’t face such problems.

More recently, Gandhi criticized External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for his “damning silence” over the number of aircraft India lost during Operation Sindoor and accused him of alerting Pakistan ahead of India’s response.

The exchange highlights the sharp political divides over national security and foreign diplomacy in India.