It is important to spend more on defence: Shashi Tharoor

Jaipur, Feb 2 (PTI) – Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has voiced support for the Union government's decision to allocate the largest portion of the national budget to defence, emphasizing that it sends a strong message that India is not a weak country and cannot be undermined.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) on Sunday, Tharoor stressed the importance of military preparedness, particularly in light of past tensions with China.

"I think it's very important to spend money on India's defences. We don’t do it to wage a war but to ensure that no other country thinks we are weak and can be taken lightly," said Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram in Parliament.

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Recalling past skirmishes along the India-China border, he stated that such incidents must not be repeated and reaffirmed his stance on bolstering defence capabilities.

"What happened on the Chinese border should never happen again. We must be strong, and it should be clear to them that we cannot be trifled with. That’s why increasing the defence budget is crucial. I have supported this for quite some time now."

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Advocates for a Stronger Navy and More Officers​

Tharoor also highlighted the need for strengthening the Indian Navy, given India's vast coastline.

"With such a huge coastline, we must have a stronger navy. Investing in defence is vital for our national security," he remarked.

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Addressing a perceived shortage of officers in the Army, he recalled past conflicts such as the Kargil War, where India lost many officers.

"There is a dearth of officers who fight from the front. Our Army cannot afford such shortages," Tharoor warned.

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On INDIA Bloc’s Internal Differences​

The Congress leader also spoke on the INDIA alliance, particularly its fragile unity amid state elections. Amid friction between the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Delhi Assembly elections, he acknowledged that the alliance was always expected to function differently across states.

"At the inception of the alliance, we knew it wouldn't work uniformly in every state. In Tamil Nadu, Congress, CPI, CPM, and DMK are united, while in Kerala, Congress fights against the communists, who are also our INDIA allies," Tharoor explained.

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He added that while Congress and AAP cooperated during the Lok Sabha elections, conflicts have emerged in the Delhi Assembly polls.

"The reality will vary from state to state. It is possible that all parties will come together again in future elections and part ways thereafter. There’s no need to either declare the alliance dead or celebrate its unity," he noted.

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Star-Studded Jaipur Literature Festival​

The Jaipur Literature Festival 2025 boasts an illustrious lineup of over 300 renowned personalities, including Nobel laureates, Booker Prize winners, and leading intellectuals. Among the notable participants are Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, Amol Palekar, Ira Mukhoty, Geetanjali Shree, David Hare, Manav Kaul, Javed Akhtar, Rahul Bose, Yuvan Aves, Shahu Patole, and Kallol Bhattacharjee.

The festival continues to serve as a major platform for thought leaders to discuss pressing national and global issues.