'Bharat ki baat sunata hoon': Congress vs Congress? Manish Tewari's cryptic post after being dropped from Operation Sindoor debate

NEW DELHI: Amid reports that Congress MPs who were part of the multi-party delegation for the government's global outreach on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism may not be allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha debate on the Pahalgam attack and subsequent Operation Sindoor , Congress MP Manish Tewari on Tuesday posted a cryptic message on social media, invoking lyrics from a patriotic Hindi film song.

While sharing a news article on why Congress did not allow party MPs Shashi Tharoor and Tewari to speak in Lok Sabha, the Congress MP posted famous lyrics of the Hindi film "Poorab and Pashchim". "Hai preet jahaan ki reet sada, Main geet wahaan ke gaata hoon, Bharat ka rehne waala hoon, Bharat ki baat sunata hoon," Tewari said in a post on X, adding, "Jai Hind."

है प्रीत जहां की रीत सदा

मैं गीत वहां के गाता हूं

भारत का रहने वाला हूं

भारत की बात सुनाता हूं

Hai preet jahaan ki reet sada

Main geet wahaan ke gaata hoon

Bharat ka rehne waala hoon

Bharat ki baat sunata hoon

- Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/tP5VjiH2aD

— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) July 29, 2025

The Congress party reportedly approached Shashi Tharoor over the weekend to speak in the ongoing parliamentary debate, but he declined the offer and had not expressed interest on his own until then. His absence allowed the BJP to target the Congress, with BJP MP Baijayant Panda suggesting that Congress leadership was not letting Tharoor speak. However, Panda added that he was glad no one could stop Tharoor from speaking in the national interest.

Shashi Tharoor avoided media questions on Operation Sindoor on Monday, responding with just one word -- "Maunvrat, Maunvrat" -- as he entered Parliament.

According to TOI sources, Tharoor has now shown interest in speaking on the Indian Ports Bill, particularly due to its relevance to the Vizhinjam port in his Thiruvananthapuram constituency. The port was recently inaugurated in a high-profile event attended by the Prime Minister Modi and leaders from multiple parties.

Congress MP Manish Tewari is expected to speak on the upcoming sports-related bills in the Lok Sabha. Though he initially showed interest in the Pahalgam-Sindoor issue, he later opted for the sports legislation. Sources said that under the party’s internal system based on performance and participation, MPs are generally allotted one key topic each to ensure more members get an opportunity to speak.

India carried out Operation Sindoor on early on May 7 in response to April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK. India repelled subsequent Pakistani aggression and pounded its airbases.