WEBDESK: A delegation led by senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor faced an unexpected protest during their visit to Washington, D.C., on June 5. The group was confronted by a crowd of Sikh protesters, who surrounded and heckled them outside the National Press Building.
The incident occurred while the delegation was wrapping up the final leg of their international outreach tour. Having previously visited Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, the Indian officials arrived in the U.S. on May 24.
Videos posted on social media showed protesters waving flags of a Sikh separatist movement, raising slogans and heckling Tharoor and other leaders when they reached the parking area of the National Press Building in Washington, DC.
Following the incident, the Indian delegation avoided to interact with media and sought the police help.
Shashi Tharoor’s India delegation got chased by their own citizens in Washington. Ended up hiding in a parking lot. Global PR tour or hide-and-seek? 🎭🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/T2Hn9QczKc
— Mansoor Ahmed Qureshi (@MansurQr) June 5, 2025
Eyewitnesses said the protesters were organized and vocal, aiming to bring international attention to issues affecting the Sikh community in India. The confrontation underscores ongoing divisions within the Indian diaspora on matters of human rights, religious freedom, and the treatment of minorities in India.
Shashi Tharoor, who has long been considered one of the more liberal voices in Indian politics, has not yet commented directly on the protest. However, sources close to the delegation say the team was “taken aback” by the intensity of the demonstration and chose not to escalate the matter.
Shashi Tharoor vs Pakistan delegation
The video came at the same time when Pakistan’s delegation, led by former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto, made international headlines for putting forth Pakistan’s stance in front of the world.
Bilawal Bhutto met with the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres in NewYork, while also interacting with the international media.
The diplomatic initiatives by both Pakistan and India come after the two nuclear-armed neighbours carried out cross-border attacks against each other in the aftermath of the Pahalgam incident — where 26 tourists were killed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) — after which New Delhi launched airstrikes inside Pakistan prompting the latter to retaliate via Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos.
Pakistan downed six IAF fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. After at least 87 hours, the war between the two nuclear-armed nations ended on May 10 with a ceasefire agreement brokered by the United States.
Shashi Tharoor’s recent criticism
Last week, strong reactions against the so-called intellectual and Congress leader, Shashi Tharoor, came for his criticism against the Colombian government while being its guest.
Furthermore, Shashi Tharoor was seen singing in a party earlier this week. This led to widespread outrage from the Indian community.
Shashi Tharoor spoke harshly against the Colombian government simply for showing sympathy for the civilian deaths in Pakistan caused by Indian direct strikes on women and children.
