New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been picked up along with six other MPs, who will represent India and brief the foreign governments on India’s stance on recent India-Pakistan conflict. One of the delegations will be led by BJP MP from Odisha, Baijayant Jay Panda.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs announced the names of the leaders who will represent India in its diplomatic outreach drive and lead the delegations, on Saturday. “Seven All-Party Delegations will soon visit key partner nations, carrying our shared message of zero-tolerance to terrorism. A powerful reflection of national unity above politics, beyond differences,” Parliamentary Affairs minister Kiren Rijiju wrote on X.
Alongside Tharoor and Panda, the other MPs who will lead the delegations are:
- Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP)
- Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU)
- Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK)
- Supriya Sule (NCP)
- Shrikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena)
Tharoor’s inclusion in the delegation comes after he publicly supported Operation Sindoor. His remarks in support of the government’s military action reportedly caused internal feud in Congress. However, his name wasn’t recommended by Congress party.
Taking to social media, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh informed that on the morning of May 16, Minister Kiren Rijiju spoke with the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Congress was asked to submit the names of four MPs for the delegations. Ramesh said that the Leader of the Opposition had formally submitted the names of Anand Sharma, former Union Cabinet Minister, Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader, INC, Lok Sabha, Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, Rajya Sabha MP and Raja Brar, Lok Sabha MP.
Each delegation will consist of 5–6 MPs and will travel to countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, South Africa, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, reports quoting sources stated.
The foreign tour is expected to begin after May 22 and is part of India’s diplomatic push to highlight Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism. It also aims to build international consensus.
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