Lagatar24 Desk
Panama City: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, leading an all-party parliamentary delegation to the United States and Latin America, delivered an impassioned address to the Indian diaspora in Panama, defending Operation Sindoor and evoking the emotional aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Speaking before a packed hall of Indian-origin citizens, Tharoor described the brutality of the April 22 terror attack, where terrorists murdered 26 civilians in front of their families. “Some women cried out, ‘The terrorists killed me too’, and they replied, ‘No, go back and tell others what happened’. We heard their cries,” he said.
Symbolism of Sindoor and National Resolve
Using a powerful metaphor, Tharoor said India decided to match the colour of the women’s sindoor, wiped away by the attackers, with the colour of the terrorists’ blood. “The vermilion that signifies marriage was replaced with grief, and India responded with strength,” he added.
The Congress leader emphasized that Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, was a unified national response and not a partisan decision. “This was not about politics. It was about dignity, justice, and national resolve,” Tharoor said, echoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier statements on the necessity of the operation.
Message of Unity Across Party Lines
The address was part of a larger diplomatic outreach, as the Indian delegation met with Indian communities and officials abroad to explain the context and resolve behind Operation Sindoor. The bipartisan delegation includes MPs from the BJP, Congress, and regional parties, showcasing rare political unity on a national security issue.
Alongside Tharoor, the delegation includes MPs Tejasvi Surya, Milind Deora, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shashank Mani Tripathi, and others, along with former US Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The group had previously visited Guyana and is scheduled to engage with think tanks and policy makers in Washington, D.C., next.
Diaspora Support and Diplomatic Messaging
The Indian diaspora in Panama responded with standing ovations and emotional reactions to Tharoor’s speech. Many attendees expressed pride and relief over India’s bold stance against terrorism. The delegation emphasized that India’s actions were guided by a need to ensure no more sindoor is wiped away by terror.
