Congressional Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has approached the opposition and senior leaders of the NDA as the government prepares to send eight delegations to other countries to express India’s views on the recent conflict with Pakistan. document. |Picture source: ANI
Congressional Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has approached senior leaders with the opposition and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as the government prepares to send eight delegations to major countries in Europe, West Asia and Africa to express India’s views on the recent conflict with Pakistan.
Sources said some leaders accepted the invitation.
Hindu The government took the initiative to carry out diplomatic propaganda in major parties, a unified front for Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and explained India’s stance on the conflict triggered by the Pahargam attack, reported Thursday.
The delegations have about 10 members and will include parliamentarians, former diplomats and strategic experts. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will introduce more details to members within a day or two.
Sources said Mr Rijiju had a conversation with several leaders from Thursday night to Friday morning. He called them to check their availability and willingness. The JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha, the BJD’s Sasmit Patra, John Brittas of the CPI(M), Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Supriya Sule of the NCP (SP), the DMK’s K. Kanimozhi, the AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and the AAP’s Vikramjit Sawhney are some of Rijiju’s leader.
The government has invited at least four congressional leaders to tour. They are Lok Sabha MPS Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Amar Singh and former Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid. Mr Tarol, who has been under fire for his recent remarks on negotiations between India and Pakistan, refused to confirm or deny his presence in the delegation.
After the government contacted several Congress leaders, Party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and opposition leader Rahul Gandhi discussed the issue and nominated the party’s Anand Sharma. Mr. Sharma has served in the business and external affairs portfolio in the past. The Government insisted that Mr. Tarol was one of the delegations.
“Double Standard”
Meanwhile, Congress Secretary General Jairam Ramesh questioned the government’s double standards in an article on X. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting of NDA-only chief ministers on May 25 to take a “political mileage” from Sindoor action. “But he now wants members of MPs from all sides to go abroad to explain India’s delegation on Pakistan’s terrorism. Diplomatic initiatives are very needed, but why these double standards are.”
He also confirmed Congress’ participation. “The most important thing about Congress is that Congress will certainly join the delegation of members of the multi-party MPs. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju spoke with the President of Congress, who will represent the party leaders,” he said.
Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay, Sudip Bandhopadhyay, rejected his medical condition and brief notice according to sources. Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar also spoke with Mr. Bandhopadhyay. It is not yet clear whether Trinamool will nominate another leader.
A senior functional academician in the DMK, also confirmed Mr Rijiju had a conversation with the party’s parliamentary leader Kanimozhi, who said the government has not provided information on the destination and other details.
Under Operation Sindor, India launched a precise strike on Pakistan’s terrorist infrastructure and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack.
publishing – May 16, 2025 at 10:20 pm ist
