Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, widely recognised for his command of English and eloquent public speaking, has now won widespread praise for using fluent French to slam Russia over Pakistan‘s participation in an upcoming counter-terrorism summit.
Tharoor’s remarks came during a meeting in Moscow with Leonid Slutsky, chair of Russia’s Liberal Democratic Party.
In an unexpected linguistic exchange, Shashi Tharoor addressed Slutsky in French, stressing that Pakistan’s well-documented role in offering sanctuary to terrorist groups cannot be overlooked.
As Slutsky conducted the conversation in French, Tharoor responded fluently in the same language, a moment that was captured on video and has since gone viral on social media, drawing admiration for the Congress leader’s multilingual skills.
Counter-Terrorism Conference
During the meeting, Slutsky informed Tharoor that Russia is planning a conference involving the Presidents of six national parliaments — India, Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran, and Turkey — with the central theme focused on the fight against terrorism.
Slutsky mentioned that Russia has organised similar conferences six times in the past, although the date and venue for the upcoming meeting are yet to be finalised. He indicated that the event is likely to be held early next year.
Stressing the importance of meaningful dialogue, Slutsky added, “If we want not just an exchange of views but real action in curbing terrorism, we must approach the agenda as sternly as possible.”
In his response, delivered in polished French, Tharoor did not hold back. He pointedly remarked, “There is a country that, unfortunately, provides a safe haven to these terrorist groups. They have their headquarters there, they recruit and train individuals, arm them, fund them, and send them to carry out attacks in other nations.”
“It is therefore impossible for us to ignore the reality of Pakistan’s patronage of such groups,” Tharoor added.
Tharoor, who has consistently voiced his concerns over Pakistan’s involvement in cross-border terrorism, used the meeting to reinforce India’s position internationally.
His participation came as part of Operation Sindoor, India’s global outreach initiative aimed at strengthening diplomatic engagement.
Following his discussions with Slutsky, Tharoor posted on X, “Good to renew my acquaintance with my Russian counterpart, Mr. Slutsky, who had visited Parliament in New Delhi with a Russian delegation some months ago. We exchanged views on regional peace, #OperationSindoor, and explored possibilities for future parliamentary collaboration.”
