New Delhi: In a rare display of political unity, the Indian government is sending parliamentary delegations to eight countries to present India’s position on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent military response under Operation Sindoor. These delegations, comprising MPs from across the political spectrum, will highlight how India responded firmly yet responsibly to cross-border terrorism originating from Pakistan.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, in coordination with the Ministry of External Affairs, has finalised the plan. The first phase will see the departure of MP groups to various regions after May 22. The aim is to communicate India’s stance to foreign governments, policy makers, think tanks, and global media, particularly emphasising that India’s response did not infringe upon the sovereignty of any nation but was necessary to protect its own people.
Tharoor gets key role
Among the key names announced, senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has been entrusted with leading the delegation to the United States. In this capacity, he will be responsible for articulating India’s position on international platforms and countering Pakistani narratives on American soil. His inclusion is being viewed as a significant gesture by the Modi government, reflecting bipartisan consensus on national security matters.
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Delegation leaders and regions
The following leaders will spearhead delegations to seven key regions:
Shashi Tharoor – United States of America
Vijayant Jai Panda – Eastern Europe
Kanimozhi – Russia
Sanjay Jha – South East Asia
Ravi Shankar Prasad – Middle East
Supriya Sule – West Asia
Shrikant Shinde – African countries
Each delegation will consist of approximately six MPs, with representation from multiple parties to underscore the united national response against terrorism. The goal is to present a clear picture of how terrorist groups sheltered by Pakistan violated India’s sovereignty and how India responded with a firm but restrained military operation.
Political unity on global stage
The move comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor, during which the Indian armed forces struck terror hideouts in Pakistan, sending a strong message after the brutal Pahalgam attack. The cross-party support for the operation has extended beyond Parliament and will now reflect in diplomatic outreach abroad. Officials say the initiative is not about political point-scoring but a collective effort to defend India’s global image and national interest.
MPs likely to travel abroad
As per sources, around 43 to 45 MPs have been shortlisted to be part of these delegations. Prominent names include:
Prem Chand Gupta (RJD)
Sanjay Jha (JDU) – visiting Japan
Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP) – visiting the Middle East
Vijayant Jai Panda (BJP)
Anurag Thakur (BJP)
Brij Lal (BJP)
Tejasvi Surya (BJP)
Aparajita Sarangi (BJP)
Rajiv Pratap Rudy (BJP)
D. Purandeswari (BJP)
Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena – Shinde faction)
Supriya Sule (NCP – Sharad Pawar)
Sasmit Patra (BJD)
Samik Bhattacharya (BJP)
Manish Tewari (Congress)
Shashi Tharoor (Congress)
Amar Singh (Congress)
Priyanka Chaturvedi (Shiv Sena – Uddhav faction)
John Brittas (CPI-M)
Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM)