Tokyo: As part of India’s ongoing global outreach under Operation Sindoor, a high-level all-party parliamentary delegation led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha visited the memorial of legendary Indian freedom fighter Rash Behari Bose in Tokyo, Japan.
The visit was a symbolic gesture linking India’s historical resistance against colonialism to its contemporary fight against terrorism. Joining Jha at the memorial were former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, India’s Ambassador to Japan Sibi George, and other members of the delegation.
Rash Behari Bose, an early revolutionary leader, played a significant role in the Ghadar Mutiny, attempted the assassination of Viceroy Lord Hardinge in 1912, and later laid the foundation of the Indian Independence League in Japan, eventually becoming a mentor to the Indian National Army (INA).
A Strategic Diplomatic Outreach
Speaking to ANI from the memorial site, MP Sanjay Kumar Jha highlighted the strategic and diplomatic value of the delegation’s visit to Japan.
“We had 14–15 meetings here in two days, interacted with parliamentarians, think tanks, leaders, and the Indian community. I think we have been able to put forward the objective for which our all-party delegation came here,” he said.
Jha emphasized that India’s stance on terrorism, particularly in the context of Pakistan-sponsored cross-border attacks, was clearly communicated in every engagement. He specifically discussed Operation Sindoor, a recent Indian military operation targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
“Our army targeted only the terrorist hideouts with precision. India’s future stance was made clear—that if Pakistan engages in terrorist activity in the future, we will not tolerate it,” he affirmed.
The Indus Waters Treaty suspension was also discussed during these meetings as part of India’s broader geopolitical recalibration.
Unity Beyond Politics
Jha underscored the national consensus across party lines in India when it comes to combating terrorism.
“We may have political differences and contest elections against each other, but when it comes to the country, we are all together,” he said while addressing the Indian diaspora in Tokyo.
The delegation is composed of nine prominent figures from across the political spectrum:
- Sanjay Kumar Jha (JD-U)
- Aparajita Sarangi (BJP)
- Brij Lal (BJP)
- Pradhan Baruah (BJP)
- Dr. Hemang Joshi (BJP)
- Abhishek Banerjee (AITC)
- John Brittas (CPI-M)
- Salman Khurshid (Congress, Former MEA)
- Ambassador Mohan Kumar
This group forms part of a broader seven-delegation effort, with MPs visiting East and Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America to highlight India’s unified diplomatic and military response following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
Broader Objectives of Operation Sindoor
The Japan leg of the tour serves multiple objectives:
- Engage with international partners on counterterrorism cooperation
- Mobilize the Indian diaspora to amplify India’s global narrative
- Honor freedom fighters like Rash Behari Bose who embody India’s historical resistance to oppression
- Counter Pakistan’s narrative in international forums with documented evidence of state-sponsored terrorism
The visit to Bose’s memorial in Tokyo served not only as a tribute to a revolutionary hero but also as a reminder of the continuity in India’s fight—then against colonial rule, now against terrorism.