New Delhi: The Indian government is sending parliamentary delegations to eight countries to present the position of India on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent ‘Operation Sindoor’ in which the Indian Armed Forces destroyed several terror camps. These delegations have MPs from different political parties and senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been entrusted with leading the delegation to the United States. He will articulate the position of India on international platforms and counter Pakistani narratives on the US soil. The first phase will see the departure of MP groups to various regions after May 22.
While BJP has prasied Tharoor’s oratory skills, and international ceredtions, the party also questioned his position within Congress. Interestingly, Congress did not include Tharoor in its official list of recommendations for the diplomatic outreach, leading to a war of words with BJP. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said Rahul Gandhi submitted to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju a list of names for the delegation and it did not have Tharoor’s name.
BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya wrote on his official X handle, “No one can deny Shashi Tharoor’s eloquence, his long experience as a United Nations official, and his deep insights on matters of foreign policy. So why has the Congress Party – and Rahul Gandhi in particular – chosen not to nominate him for the multi-party delegations being sent abroad to explain India’s position on key issues? Is it insecurity? Jealousy? Or simply intolerance of anyone who outshines the ‘high command’?”
No one can deny Shashi Tharoor’s eloquence, his long experience as a United Nations official, and his deep insights on matters of foreign policy.
So why has the Congress Party — and Rahul Gandhi in particular — chosen not to nominate him for the multi-party delegations being…
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) May 17, 2025
Tharoor wrote on his official X handle, “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.”
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! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/b4Qjd12cN9
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 17, 2025
As per the official statement of Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, the government has chosen “articulate voices” from several parties to project India’s “national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations.” There are seven delegations with an experienced MP heading each of them, and they have to uphold India’s stance of zero tolerance against terrorism.
Apart from Tharoor, the list includes JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha, BJP MPs Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, NCP-SP’s Supriya Sule, Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde, and DMK’s Kanimozhi. Four belong to the ruling NDA, while three come from the opposition INDIA bloc.
