The Government of India has organized a seven-member all-party delegation to inform key foreign governments about the recent India-Pakistan conflict and India's position on the issue. Veteran Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is part of this delegation. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs announced that Shashi Tharoor, a four-time MP from Thiruvananthapuram, will lead the delegation. Other appointed members include BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule, and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MP Shrikant Shinde.
Interestingly, none of the four MPs suggested by Congress for inclusion in the delegation were chosen. According to Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju had called Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on the morning of May 16, requesting them to suggest four names for representing India on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. By yesterday afternoon, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha had written to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister, naming Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, and Raja Barar on behalf of Congress. However, the center placed their trust in Shashi Tharoor instead.
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The seven-member all-party delegation organized by the Government of India will embark on a 10-day diplomatic mission starting May 23. Visiting prominent capitals like Washington, London, Abu Dhabi, Pretoria, and Tokyo, the team will inform foreign governments about India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism and recent developments under Operation Sindoor. On April 22, in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam that resulted in 26 casualties, India launched Operation Sindoor, conducting airstrikes on nine terrorist bases of Jaish, Lashkar, and Hizbul in Pakistan and its occupied Kashmir, resulting in over 100 terrorist casualties.
Source: aajtak
Shashi Tharoor: Committed to National Interest
Reacting to being appointed the leader of the all-party delegation by the center, Shashi Tharoor expressed feeling 'honored' and mentioned that he would not shy away from any matter concerning national interest. He wrote on X, 'I feel honored by the invitation from the Government of India to lead an all-party delegation to five major capitals to present our country’s perspective on recent events. Where national interest is involved and my services are needed, I will not step back.' Meanwhile, BJP leader Amit Malviya has questioned the names suggested by Congress.
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He tweeted, 'The selection of Congress representatives for diplomatic meetings to represent India is not only interesting but highly questionable. For instance, one of the names suggested by Congress for representing India was Syed Naseer Hussain. This is truly shocking. Let us not forget that his supporters celebrated his victory in the Rajya Sabha by shouting Pakistan Zindabad slogans inside the Karnataka Assembly. Three people were arrested by Bengaluru Police in connection with the incident based on reports from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), circumstantial evidence, and witness testimony.'
Malviya further tweeted, 'The less said about Gaurav Gogoi, the better. Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Gogoi of spending 15 days in Pakistan. Sarma claimed that Gogoi's arrival and departure were officially recorded at the Attari border, and that Gogoi's wife, Elizabeth Colburn, accompanied him in Islamabad for the first seven days before returning to India. Upon returning, Gogoi allegedly took nearly 90 youths to the Pakistan embassy—many of whom reportedly did not know where they were being taken.'
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BJP Questions Names Suggested by Congress
BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya stated, 'Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma alleged that Gaurav Gogoi’s wife Elizabeth Colburn maintained ties and received payments from the Pakistani army, raising serious questions about national security and conflict of interest. How can MPs facing such serious charges be trusted to represent India on matters related to Pakistan? What message is Congress trying to send, and whose interests are truly being served?' Meanwhile, the Kerala Congress stated that BJP lacks capable leaders, which is why they need Congress leaders like Shashi Tharoor to present their government's stance.
In another tweet, Amit Malviya wrote, 'Shashi Tharoor’s eloquence, his long experience as a United Nations official, and his deep insights into foreign policy matters are undeniable. So why didn’t the Congress party, and especially Rahul Gandhi, include him in the multi-party delegation being sent abroad to clarify India's stance on pressing issues? Is it insecurity? Jealousy? Or is it intolerance towards anyone who refuses to serve the 'High Command' without question?'
