New Delhi [India], April 29 (ANI): Two Congress leaders, Udit Raj and Shashi Tharoor, have come face to face after the latter backed the central government after the Pahalgam terror attack, saying no country has '100 per cent foolproof intelligence'

Responding to Tharoor's statement, Udit Raj questioned Thiruvananthapuram MP's political allegiance. Tharoor later hit back at Udit Raj, noting that he is a former BJP MP and 'better qualified to understand who speaks for the BJP.'

Now adding to the rift, Udit Raj on Monday questioned whether Tharoor is scared of the ED, CBI, and Income Tax.

'Is he scared of ED, CBI and Income Tax? He continually seeks opportunities to defend PM Modi and criticise the Congress party. In how many protests has Shashi Tharoor participated, and how many times has he been arrested?' Udit Raj said.

Udit Raj questioned Tharoor over praising PM Modi's meeting with Donald Trump.

'He was praising PM Modi when he met the US President Donald Trump in America. What was good about that meeting? Trump said that BRICS is scared. Tharoor ji should tell his problem,' Raj said.

Earlier in the day, Shashi Tharoor slammed his colleague Udit Raj after the latter questioned his political allegiance following his remarks on the Pahalgam terror attack.

Speaking to the media, Tharoor asserted that he is not anyone's spokesperson but only speaks for himself.

'I believe the person who said this is a former BJP MP, so you can ask him, he is better qualified to understand who speaks for the BJP...I think everybody knows that I am not a BJP spokesperson. I am not anyone's spokesperson. I speak for myself,' Shashi Tharoor said.

The rift between the two leaders started when Udit Raj asked if Tharoor was aligned with the Congress or the BJP.

'I want to ask Shashi Tharoor, is he in the Congress party or the BJP? Is he trying to become a super-BJP man? Shashi Tharoor should ask the BJP when the government is taking the Pok? Has Shashi Tharoor become the advocate of the BJP?' Udit Raj remarked while speaking to ANI on Sunday.

Udit Raj's remarks came after Shashi Tharoor on Sunday, comparing the Pahalgam attack to the October 7, 2023, strike by the terrorist organisation Hamas, advising that rather than holding the government accountable, we should see the 'present crisis through,' adding, 'No country can ever have a foolproof 100 per cent intelligence.'

'Obviously, there was no full proof intelligence. There was some failure... But we have got the example of Israel, the world's best intelligence services according to everybody, which were taken by surprise on October 7, just two years ago. It seems to me, just as Israel is waiting till the end of the war before they demand accountability, similarly, I think we too should see the present crisis through and then demand accountability from the government. No country can ever have a foolproof 100 per cent intelligence,' Tharoor said.

The terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killed 26 people, including one Nepali citizen, and targeted tourists. Following the attack, India has taken strong measures against Pakistan for its support of cross-border terrorism. (ANI)