The whole party delegation conveys India’s zero tolerance for terrorism has fallen into partisan politics

The process of nominating members as a party-wide delegation, which will meet with key global partners to convey a message of India’s zero-tolerance terrorists following the Sindoor operation and fell into partisan politics on Saturday (17 May 2025).

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju appointed MP Shashi Tharoor as one of the leaders of the seven full-party delegations, and Mr. Taroor was not nominated by his own party. The entire party delegation is expected to be in as many as 35 capitals around the world to explain India’s position.

Rigigi said in an article on X: “At the most important moment, Bharat is united. Seven full-party delegations will soon visit the major partner countries and carry a common message of our zero tolerance for terrorism. A strong reflection of national unity above politics, beyond political differences.”

However, as Congressional Communications Director Jairam Ramesh accused Narendra Modi’s administration of “disgraceful and playing games with a naughty mindset”, the unification claim was short-lived.

Mr Ramesh also added that the government had proposed the idea of ​​sending a whole party delegation as the Indian narrative became Vishwaguru [world leader] Under Narendra Modi, “failed.”

The Congress communication chief noted that after Mr. Rijiju had spoken to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday morning, his party sent the names of former Union Minister Anand Sharma, party’s Department Leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Rajya Sabha member Syed Naseer Hussain and Lok Sabha member Amrinder Singh Raja competes for part of the delegation. He asserted that Congress would not reconsider the four names.

But before speaking with Congress leadership, Mr Rijiju informally contacted Congress Manish Tewari, Salman Khurshid, Amar Singh and Mr Tharoor. None of them are found on the official list of Congress.

Mr. Rijiju’s announcement also set the Congress’ fault line apart when Mr. Tharoor took to social media to accept the center’s invitation.

“The Indian government invites to bring a full party delegation to five key capitals to express our country’s views on recent events. My services require my services when it comes to national interests and I will not be discovered and I will not want to.

Mr. Ramesh said in Mr. Tarole’s card: “Mein Hona Aur Aur Congress Ka Hona Mein Zameen-Aasmaan ka antar hai [There is a world of difference between being in the Congress and being of the Congress]. ”

Previously, Mr. Rijiju announced that Mr. Tharoor’s name was one of the seven leaders of the entire party delegation. Others include Ravi Shankar Prasad and Jai Panda of BJP, Kanimozhi of DMK, Sanjay Jha of Janata Dal (United), Supriya Sule of Nationalist Congress Party and Shrikant Shinde of Shiv Sena.

A statement from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said that the entire party delegation would devote himself to India’s national consensus and firm attitude to combat terrorism in all forms and manifestations.

“They will spread a strong message to the world with zero tolerance for terrorism,” it said. The statement also said outstanding diplomats will be part of every delegation. Sources added that each delegation has six to seven members of Congress and may visit five countries.

The government also contacted Trinamool MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay, but he refused due to health reasons.

Other MPs nominated by the government include Anurag Thakur, Aparajita Sarangi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Asaduddin Owaisi, Mr. Tewari, Mr. Priyanka Chaturvedi, John Brittas Sasmit Patra, etc.

Mr. Kurshid, former Foreign Minister and Congress leader who is not a member of the MP, has been included in the delegation led by Mr. Jaha. However, Mr Ramesh said that Mr Kurshid had made it clear to the government that the party must decide that he is part of the delegation.

Sources said Mr. Tuvari was not named by his party, either, if the government does not reject his name because it does not involve a party whip.

“You cannot include the names of members of Congress (delegation) without consulting the party. In a democracy, when an individual member of Congress is sent by an official delegation, the member of Congress should seek the consent of that party,” Ramesh said.

Mr Ramesh further claimed that Mr Rijiju did not mention Mr Tharoor, Mr Tewari, Mr Khurishid or anyone else’s conversation with the leader of the Congress.

Congress, as well as CPI(M), also reiterated their request to attend a special session of the Parliament.

Mr Ramesh accused the government of playing “Narad Muni and accused the entire delegation of exercises as a “transfer and cosmetics exercises”.

“It is a dishonest government to ask for four names, and we will not change these names,” he said.

It is unclear whether the government will accept Congress’ name or move on. However, each group is assigned to different countries as part of the outreach program.

Mr. Prasad’s delegation is expected to visit major countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Algeria, while Ms. Sull’s team of MPs will travel to Oman, Kenya, South Africa and Egypt. The delegation led by Mr. JHA may visit Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim population, while the delegation led by Shinde is expected to visit parts of the United Arab Emirates and Africa.