Shashi Tharoor Leads Parliament Panel to Jammu and Kashmir

A 10-member Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, led by senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, has commenced a four-day study tour of Jammu and Kashmir to review regional passport operations and key diplomatic relations.

On visiting Passport Seva Kendra in Jammu, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday noted that the committee is focused on studying three matters, including Indo-Pak relations, Sino-Indian relations, and the functioning of passport offices and Passport Seva Kendras.

Speaking to the reporters, Tharoor said that the committee will not look into the domestic issues in Jammu, as it is an “External Affairs Committee.”

“I have only talked about calling on the Governor. I have not had a chance to see other things or listen to other people’s voices. I want to make it very clear that this is not a visit about assessing the conditions in the Kashmir Valley. The committee is here to study three issues: Indo-Pak relations, Sino-Indian relations, and the functioning of passport offices and passport seva kendras. These are the only issues we are studying. We are not here to look at domestic matters; that is not our mandate. We are the External Affairs Committee,” he said.

The Congress MP, along with the members of the Standing Committee, visited Jammu and Kashmir today and held talks with the officials at the Regional Passport Office and the External Affairs Ministry representative from Delhi.

Earlier in the day, Tharoor expressed concerns about delays in the issuance of passports in Jammu and Kashmir during the visit.

Tharoor told reporters, “We had conversations with the Regional Passport Office, the MEA representative from Delhi here. We’ve also had conversations with the police and with the postal department. We are concerned about some of the delays that have been impeding passport issuance in this area, and we have been raising some very strong questions because we want to see improvements and speeding up of the passport delivery for applicants in Kashmir, Leh, Srinagar and Jammu. The MPs here have found it a very meaningful visit, and we’ve had some very strong and constructive discussions.”

Meanwhile, the members of the Committee are on a visit to Jammu and Kashmir from June 22 to 25, 2026. The agenda of the meeting includes ‘Understanding India-China Relations and the way forward’ with special reference to the Indo-China border, as well as ‘Recent developments in India-Pakistan relations’ with special reference to the India-Pakistan border.

Political Friction and Future Outlook

The legislative tour, while administrative in nature, exposed deep partisan divides. Prior to the passport office inspection, Tharoor met with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in Srinagar on Sunday evening, subsequently posting on social media about “encouraging progress towards normalcy.”

This observation drew sharp criticism from the Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee. Chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma openly rebuked Tharoor for failing to engage with local citizens and party workers who are actively demanding the restoration of statehood.

In contrast, BJP committee members defended the observations. MP Arun Govil asserted that substantial regional development has altered the landscape since his historical visits, while former Union Minister Shahnawaz Hussain accused the Congress leadership of suppressing independent parliamentary assessments.

The committee, which features diverse cross-party representation including Asaduddin Owaisi, Arun Govil, Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Vijay Baghel, K Laxman, B S Mubarak, Vikas Kumar, and B S Rawat, will next receive high-level military briefings at army headquarters. The delegation plans to inspect the Jammu border before transitioning to Kashmir and Ladakh to finalize their official recommendations.

FAQs

What is the primary purpose of the parliamentary committee’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir?

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs is conducting a four-day study tour to evaluate three primary areas: India-Pakistan relations, Sino-Indian relations, and the administrative operational efficiency of passport offices and Passport Seva Kendras in the region.

Which specific passport offices are under review by the panel?

The legislative panel is investigating processing mechanisms and operational delivery delays affecting passport applicants across Jammu, Srinagar, Leh, and Kashmir.

Why did Shashi Tharoor’s comments cause controversy within the Congress party?

Tharoor faced internal backlash after publicly praising the Lieutenant Governor’s regional outreach and noting encouraging progress toward normalcy. Local Congress leadership criticized him for not meeting local citizens or addressing the political demand for restored statehood.

Which lawmakers are part of this legislative delegation?

The 10-member panel is chaired by Shashi Tharoor and includes high-profile Members of Parliament such as Asaduddin Owaisi, Arun Govil, Arvind Ganpat Sawant, Vijay Baghel, K Laxman, B S Mubarak, Vikas Kumar, and B S Rawat.