Congress Suggests Four Names For All-Party Delegation, Shashi Tharoor Left Out

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been appointed to lead the all-party delegation to foreign countries for highlighting India’s zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, despite not forming a part of the list of names proposed by the Indian National Congress (INC).

While releasing a statement on X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh asserted that, "Yesterday morning, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju spoke with the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The INC was asked to submit names of 4 MPs for the delegations to be sent abroad to explain India's stance on terrorism from Pakistan."

The Congress party had suggested the names of former Union cabinet ministers Anand Sharma, deputy leader of INC in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain and Lok Sabha MP Raja Brar, according to Ramesh. 

However, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs later announced that Shashi Tharoor, along with BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule, and Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MP Shrikant Shinde will constitute the all-party delegation. 

BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya posted on X claiming that, "The Congress party's choices to represent India at diplomatic meetings are not just intriguing - they are deeply questionable.”

Shashi Tharoor welcomed the role while releasing a statement on X asserting that, "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."