New Delhi, May 18: The Congress on Sunday said it was not stopping anyone from being part of diplomatic delegations to be sent to various countries following Operation Sindoor and that its leaders who have been named at the instance of the government must listen to their conscience and contribute to the exercise.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh accused the government of politicising the exercise of choosing leaders for the delegations and having “malicious intent” with only one out of four Congress leaders nominated by the party making the cut.
On Saturday, the Congress said it was asked by the government to submit the names of four leaders for the all-party delegations to be sent abroad to explain India’s stance on Pakistan-backed terrorism. It nominated Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, and Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.
Of the four, only Sharma has been included in the seven delegations that will be visiting various countries.
Four Congress leaders – Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Amar Singh and Salman Khurshid – who were not part of the list forwarded by the Congress have been included in the delegations by the government.
“They included only one leader out of the four names we sent. Four other names were added by the government, who are senior MPs and leaders of our party, they should listen to their conscience and contribute in the delegations,” Ramesh said.
“For the Congress, national interest is paramount. This matter should not be stretched and more politicisation is not appropriate in this regard,” he said.
The Congress has not stopped anyone and all our MPs named in the delegations will go and contribute, he said.
The selection of Tharoor to head one of the delegations was frowned upon by the Congress, which accused the government of playing politics with a “mischievous” mindset.
Referring to Congress leader Salman Khurshid, Ramesh said the four names added by the government include a former foreign minister who is experienced in foreign policy.
With just one of its four nominated leaders being accommodated in the diplomatic outreach delegations, the Congress has said it proves the “complete insincerity” of the Narendra Modi government and shows the “cheap political games” it plays on serious national issues.
The opposition party, however, said the four eminent Congress MPs/leaders who have been included at the instance of the Modi government will go with the delegations.
Fifty-one political leaders, parliamentarians and former ministers cutting across party lines will be part of the seven delegations travelling to world capitals to put across India’s resolve to tackle terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor. (PTI)
