Cong proposes 4 MPs for India's anti-terror outreach, excludes Tharoor
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New Delhi: Shortly after the Centre announced seven Members of Parliament (MPs) chosen to lead Indian delegations abroad to highlight Pakistan’s role in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, the Congress party revealed its own list of nominated MPs submitted to the government for this mission, notably excluding senior leader and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor.
While Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju included Tharoor among the leaders of these delegations alongside MPs from other parties, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh clarified on X that the party’s official list of four MPs sent to the government did not feature Tharoor’s name.
"Yesterday morning, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju, spoke with the Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The Indian National Congress was asked to submit names of four MPs for the delegations to be sent abroad to explain India’s stance on terrorism from Pakistan," Jairam Ramesh posted.
By noon on May 16, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi formally wrote to Rijiju with the names of four MPs: former Union Minister Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Rajya Sabha member Syed Naseer Hussain, and Lok Sabha MP Raja Brar.
India has decided to send seven all-party delegations to strategic partner nations, including members of the United Nations Security Council, aiming to present a united front on cross-border terrorism and expose Pakistan’s alleged involvement in the Pahalgam attack, which claimed 26 lives.
These delegations will comprise MPs from various political parties, prominent figures, and senior diplomats.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs named Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Baijayant Panda (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), and Shrikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena) as the expected delegation leaders.
According to the Ministry, the delegations are slated to visit key partner countries such as the United States, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Africa, Egypt, and Japan later this month.
With IANS inputs
