New Delhi: The selection of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor to lead one of the all-party delegations that the Centre intends to send abroad to highlight Pakistan-sponsored terrorism has caused discontent within the Grand Old Party, which claims that the central government did not consider the four names it proposed for this initiative.
The initiative, which has sparked a verbal conflict between Congress and the BJP, consists of seven all-party delegations that will visit key allied nations to communicate India’s stance of zero tolerance towards terrorism in the wake of Operation Sindoor. Opposition figures Shashi Tharoor and Kanimozhi will collaborate with members of the ruling coalition, including Ravi Shankar Prasad and Sanjay Jha, to lead these delegations.
Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh expressed on Saturday that the government’s actions are “dishonest,” as Shashi Tharoor was not included among the four MPs suggested for the foreign delegations. Ramesh emphasized that the Congress party will remain steadfast in its position, stating, “We were asked for names.
We expected that the names we had given would be included. We hoped that the names given by the party would be included. But when we saw the press release of PIB, we were surprised. I cannot say what will happen now. Asking for four names, providing four names, and announcing a different name is dishonest on the government’s part.
It is possible that Mr. Rijiju had spoken to Rahul ji and Kharge even after the government had made its decision, but I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. However, what transpired is indeed dishonest. We are not going to alter these four names,” as reported by ANI news agency.
On Friday, Rahul Gandhi addressed Kiren Rijiju in a letter stating: ‘Dear Shri Kiren Rijiju, I am following up on a discussion I had with Kharge ji regarding the delegation for Foreign Countries. After consulting with Kharge ji, I am submitting four names: Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Raja Barar, and Naseer Hussain.’
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) responded by supporting Shashi Tharoor and criticizing Congress for its perceived ‘insecurity’ and ‘jealousy’ towards individuals who ‘outshine the high command.’ Amit Malviya, head of BJP’s National Information & Technology department, remarked on X, ‘Shashi Tharoor’s eloquence, extensive experience as a United Nations official, and profound understanding of foreign policy are undeniable.
Why has the Congress Party, particularly Rahul Gandhi, opted not to nominate him for the multi-party delegations tasked with articulating India’s stance on significant issues?
On Saturday, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the Congress party for failing to nominate Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor for the delegations, asserting that the party lacks confidence in its own leaders.
He further remarked that Congress has suggested questionable candidates, including individuals associated with the election slogans of ‘Pakistan Zindabad.’ Poonawalla stated, ‘The Congress party does not have faith in its leaders.
Shashi Tharoor has consistently countered Pakistan’s narrative and promoted the principle of India First. However, the Congress has prioritized its internal politics over national interests by proposing dubious candidates, including those linked to the ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ slogans during their campaigns,’ as reported by ANI. Additionally, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari cautioned the Congress regarding their opposition to the central government’s selection of their senior leader Shashi Tharoor, indicating that such behavior will not yield positive outcomes.
