Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 19 : Trinamool Congress (TMC) General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee on Monday clarified that the party stands firmly with the Centre in combating terrorism, but rejected the Union Government’s unilateral decision on selecting members for its diplomatic outreach under Operation Sindoor.
Addressing questions over TMC’s participation, Banerjee said, “Whatever decision the Union Government takes to combat terrorism and protect national interest, TMC will stand with the Centre shoulder to shoulder.”
However, Banerjee emphasized that the decision on which party representative joins any such delegation must rest with the respective parties. “The Centre cannot decide who goes from which party. That decision belongs to the party itself,” he stated, while confirming TMC has not boycotted Operation Sindoor.
He added that the TMC has remained non-political in its approach to this national issue, contrasting it with other parties he accused of politicizing the matter.
TMC leader Sagarika Ghosh echoed Banerjee’s stance, stating on X, “AITCofficial stands shoulder to shoulder in total solidarity with our armed forces… The nation, the flag, and our national resolve belong to all of India.”
Despite earlier reports suggesting TMC MP Yusuf Pathan’s inclusion in the delegation, sources confirmed no TMC leader will be joining the outreach program.
The initiative, launched by the Indian Government under Operation Sindoor, aims to counter global misinformation and showcase India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism. It includes seven multi-party delegations traveling to over 30 countries, each led by a senior MP.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju had highlighted the effort on X, calling it a united front with the motto: “One mission. One message. One Bharat.”
Operation Sindoor was launched on May 7 in response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, targeting terror infrastructure across the border