NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took an apparent dig at fellow member Shashi Tharoor, drawing a distinction between “being in the Congress and of the Congress” amid the government’s all-party delegation for Operation Sindoor outreach.“

Congress mein hona aur Congress ka hona mein zameen-aasmaan ka antar hai

(There is a difference between being in the Congress and of the Congress),” said Jairam, as quoted by news agency PTI.This came amid a row over the government’s decision to appoint Tharoor as head of a multi-party delegation abroad to present India’s position against Pakistan regarding terrorism.Ramesh likened the Congress party to “the mighty Ganga, which has many tributaries… Some of them dry up and some get polluted”. However, he avoided responding to queries about potential disciplinary measures against Tharoor.The government selected Tharoor to lead one of seven multi-party delegations, tasked with demonstrating India’s unified stance and determined approach in fighting terrorism across all forms. The delegation’s purpose includes conveying India’s strict zero-tolerance policy regarding terrorism to the international community.However, Tharoor’s selection by the centre stirred a political controversy. Tharoor welcomed the government’s decision, saying it reflected national unity and that he was honoured to serve. He acknowledged the Congress leadership’s right to assess his abilities and clarified he had informed them of the government’s outreach.Read more: Shashi Tharoor reacts to Congress not suggesting his name for all-party delegation listHowever, Jairam Ramesh’s veiled swipe suggested deviation from party discipline. He claimed that MPs included in government delegations should consult their party before accepting such roles.Meanwhile, Tharoor maintained the issue was above party politics, while the BJP capitalised on the intra-party discord. BJP’s Amit Malviya questioned whether Congress’ snub reflected “jealousy, insecurity, or intolerance” toward Tharoor’s independent stature and global credentials.