Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has been named among seven leaders set to lead All-Party Delegations to visit key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council later this month. Congress party officially did not include his name among the four MPs chosen for the delegations to be sent abroad to explain India’s stance on terrorism from Pakistan.
The following Members of Parliament will lead the seven delegations.
1)Shashi Tharoor, Congress
2)Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP
3)Sanjay Kumar Jha, JDU
4)Baijayant Panda, BJP
5)Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, DMK
6)Supriya Sule, NCP
7)Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shiv Sena
Cong submitted four names
Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh tweets “Yesterday morning, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Kiren Rijiju spoke with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi and asked to submit names of 4 MPs for the delegations to be sent abroad to explain India’s stance on terrorism from Pakistan. Following names were given:
1. Anand Sharma
2. Gaurav Gogoi
3. Dr. Syed Naseer Hussain
4. Raja Brar
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
Congress is “not going to change” the names of four MPs
Seemingly upset with the inclusion of Shashi Tharoor’s name while asserting that the Congress is “not going to change” the names of four MPs for the government’s proposed delegations to foreign countries to explain India’s stance on terrorism emanating from Pakistan, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said that this is “dishonest on the government’s part.”
This comes after the government named Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in the list of 7 MPs who would represent India at world forums, where they would brief world leaders on Operation Sindoor.
‘We were surprised’
“We were asked for names. We expected that the names we had given would be included. We hoped that the names given by the party would be included. But when we saw the press release of PIB, we were surprised. I cannot say what will happen now. Asking four names, giving four names, and announcing another name is dishonest on the government’s part. It is possible that’ Mr Rijiju had talked to Rahul ji and Kharge even after the government had made up their mind, but I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. But what happened is dishonest. We are not going to change these four names,” Jairam Ramesh said.
“Yesterday (Tuesday) at 12.30 pm, Rahul ji wrote a letter to Kiren Rijiju and wrote ‘Dear Shri Kiren Rijiju, I am writing in follow-up of a conversation with me and Kharge ji regarding the delegation for the Foreign Countries after discussing with Kharge ji I am sending you four names Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Raja Barar and Naseer Hussain’,” Ramesh said, giving the details of the letter written to Kiren Rijiju by LoP Rahul Gandhi.
There is a “huge difference between being in Congress and being of Congress“
Jairam Ramesh asserted that all the people who are in Congress belong to Congress; and that there is a “huge difference between being in Congress and being of Congress.”
He further said that the Congress party extended their support in everything, but today, when the names were announced, the party was “surprised.”
‘I am honoured by the invitation of the government of India’
On the other hand, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is overwhelmed to lead an all-party delegation to five key capitals. He posted on X, “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.”
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.
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 17, 2025
When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting.
Jai Hind! 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/b4Qjd12cN9
