Congress names 4 MPs to be part of all-party delegation post Op Sindoor, gives Shashi Tharoor a miss

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor. (File photo)

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Saturday said that the Indian National Congress (INC) has submitted names of four MPs for the government's proposed delegations to foreign countries to explain India's stance on terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

The four names include - Anand Sharma, former Union Cabinet Minister, Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader, INC Lok Sabha, ⁠Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, Rajya Sabha MP and Raja Brar, Lok Sabha MP.

Taking to X, Jairam Ramesh posted, "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."

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

Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) May 17, 2025

"By noon yesterday May 16th, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha wrote to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs giving the following names on behalf of the INC.

1. Shri Anand Sharma, former Union Cabinet Minister

2. ⁠Shri Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader, INC LS

3. ⁠Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain, MP, RS

4. ⁠Shri Raja Brar, MP, LS," he added.

Curiously, the name of Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor is missing from the list that Jairam Ramesh says the Congress submitted to the Parliamentary Affairs Minister as multiple reports have been doing the rounds that he would be a part of the delegation.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju, however, named Tharoor in the list of 7 MPs who would represent India at world forums where they would brief world leaders on Operation Sindoor.

The other members who will lead delegations are: BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, JDU leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, BJP leader Baijayant Panda, DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, and Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Eknath Shinde, according to a post by Kiren Rijiju.

Rijiju said that India stands united, and seven all-party Delegations will soon visit key partner nations, "In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united. Seven All-Party Delegations will soon visit key partner nations, carrying our shared message of zero tolerance to terrorism. A powerful reflection of national unity above politics, beyond differences."

Accepting the government's proposal, Tharoor said, "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 nations 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

Questing his exclusion, BJP leader Amit Malviya said, "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 Tharoors 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

This comes after the Central government decided to send several all-party delegations to different countries, starting next week, to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism at the world forum.

The exercise is aimed at presenting India's stance against Pakistan on terror in the wake of Operation Sindoor -- India's diplomatic offensive against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people were killed.