‘India’s PM Can Hug Both Russia, Ukraine’s Presidents’: Tharoor Changes Opinion On Neutral Stance
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor initially critical of India's neutral position, now acknowledges that it has given India diplomatic leverage and places it in a position to contribute towards peace.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday acknowledged that he had been proved wrong in opposing India’s stance when the Russia-Ukraine war broke out, admitting that he was left with “an egg on his face.” Tharoor, who had earlier criticised India’s position for not condemning Russia’s aggression, said the policy adopted by the country has now placed it in a position to contribute towards lasting peace.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue during a session titled ‘Waging Peace: Looking Back to Look Ahead,’ the Thiruvananthapuram MP reflected on his past remarks in Parliament, where he had opposed India’s neutral stance in February 2022. “I am still wiping the egg off my face because I am one person in the parliamentary debate who actually criticised the Indian position at the time,” he admitted, as quoted by news agency PTI.
Tharoor explained that his criticism was based on well-established principles, including the violation of the UN Charter, the inviolability of borders, and the sovereignty of Ukraine, a UN member state. “We had always stood for the inadmissibility of the use of force to settle international disputes. All of those principles had been violated by one party, and we should have condemned it,” he said.
However, three years later, Tharoor acknowledged that India’s policy has resulted in diplomatic leverage. “Clearly, the policy has meant that India has actually a prime minister who can hug both the president of Ukraine and the president in Moscow two weeks apart and be accepted in both places,” he remarked. He added that India, given its distance from Europe, is uniquely positioned to play a role in fostering peace.
Shashi Tharoor Says India Can Play Peacemaker Role In Russia-Ukraine War
While emphasising that he was speaking in his capacity as an opposition MP and not on behalf of the government, Tharoor suggested that India might be open to considering peacekeeping efforts if a negotiated settlement were reached between Russia and Ukraine. “If it were necessary and if there was an agreed peace between Russia and Ukraine, there would be some willingness on the Indian side to consider sending peacekeepers,” he said.
Tharoor pointed out that Russia has explicitly stated it would not accept European peacekeepers from NATO countries. “One would have to look beyond Europe for peacekeepers,” he noted. Referring to India’s history in peacekeeping operations, he said, “With a record of over 49 peacekeeping missions, India’s commitment to global stability is well-established.”
The Congress MP also recalled Parliament’s strong opposition in 2003 to sending Indian troops to Iraq following the US-led invasion. However, he suggested that Ukraine might be a different case. “I don’t think there is going to be a lot of resistance to that idea. I don’t see that happening for Ukraine. I think if it were necessary and there was an agreed peace, there would be some willingness to consider. But I can’t speak for the government, I am in the opposition,” he said.
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