The outreach comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam.
A fresh political row has emerged over the composition of India’s multi-party delegations for Operation Sindoor’s global outreach, as Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament from the Congress party, has accepted the government’s invitation to lead one of the seven delegations — despite not being on the official list of names submitted by his own party.
The controversy erupted shortly after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju unveiled the plan on Saturday morning. He announced that seven all-party delegations would be dispatched to key partner nations — including UN Security Council members — later this month, to explain India’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism, particularly in the context of Operation Sindoor.
Among the leaders named to head these delegations was Shashi Tharoor, who promptly accepted the role. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Tharoor said:
"I am honoured by the invitation of the Government of India to lead an all-party delegation to five key capitals, to present our nation’s point of view on recent events. When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting. Jai Hind!"
However, the twist came when Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh revealed that the party had submitted a different list of MPs for the delegations, and Tharoor’s name was not included.
Ramesh clarified that on May 16, following a conversation between Rijiju and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, the party had formally proposed the following four MPs:
- Anand Sharma (former Union Cabinet Minister)
- Gaurav Gogoi (Deputy Leader, INC in Lok Sabha)
- Syed Naseer Hussain (Rajya Sabha MP)
- Raja Brar (Lok Sabha MP)
“By noon, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha had communicated these names to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs,” Ramesh wrote in a social media post.
Sources had earlier indicated that the government had initially discussed names like Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Salman Khurshid, and Amar Singh with the Congress. However, the party ultimately chose not to nominate them. Notably, Tewari and Khurshid were considered for leading delegations but were not included in the final Congress list.
Despite the internal discrepancy, the government has confirmed that the following MPs will lead the seven delegations:
- Shashi Tharoor (INC)
- Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP)
- Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU)
- Baijayant Panda (BJP)
- Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK)
- Supriya Sule (NCP)
- Shrikant Eknath Shinde (Shiv Sena)
Rijiju said these delegations will represent India’s united stance against terrorism and demonstrate the country’s zero-tolerance policy in international forums. “They will project India’s national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he added.
The outreach comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to a Pakistan-backed terror attack in Pahalgam. The delegations are expected to engage with foreign political leaders, strategic experts, and media outlets to counter what the government terms as Pakistan’s false narrative on terrorism.
While the Congress’s position appears conflicted, Tharoor’s acceptance suggests an emphasis on national unity in matters of foreign policy — even amid internal party disagreements.
