New Delhi [India]: The Indian National Congress (INC) has submitted the names of four Members of Parliament (MPs) for the government’s upcoming international delegations aimed at presenting India’s stance on cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh confirmed on Saturday.
In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh wrote:
“Yesterday morning, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju spoke with the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The INC was asked to submit names of 4 MPs for the delegations to be sent abroad to explain India’s stance on terrorism from Pakistan.”
“By noon yesterday, May 16th, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha wrote to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs giving the following names on behalf of the INC: Shri Anand Sharma, former Union Cabinet Minister; Shri Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader, INC in Lok Sabha; Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, MP, Rajya Sabha; and Shri Raja Brar, MP, Lok Sabha.”
However, the government’s official list includes Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who was not named among the four Congress MPs submitted by the party.
Despite the discrepancy, Shashi Tharoor has confirmed his participation, stating:
“When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting.”
Minister Kiren Rijiju named seven MPs who will lead delegations representing India’s all-party consensus on counterterrorism efforts, particularly Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7. The delegations are part of a major diplomatic outreach effort aimed at briefing global partners on the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s precision strikes against terror targets in Pakistan and PoJK.
The other MPs named by Rijiju for the delegations are:
- Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP)
- Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU)
- Baijayant Panda (BJP)
- Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK)
- Supriya Sule (NCP–SP)
- Shrikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena)
Kiren Rijiju emphasized national unity in his announcement:
“In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united. 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.”
The delegations are expected to travel to several strategic capitals, including the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Japan, to reinforce India’s position on zero tolerance toward terrorism.
India launched Operation Sindoor following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam which claimed 26 lives. The May 7 strikes reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 100 terrorists operating from Pakistani soil and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.