New Delhi:
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who has been facing his party’s heat for praising the Centre after Operation Sindoor, will lead an all-party delegation to carry India’s “strong message” of zero-tolerance against terrorism to the world. The government on Saturday named Mr Tharoor and six other MPs, including two from the Opposition and four from the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), to carry out this key task.
“In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united,” Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju posted on X.
He said the seven all-party delegations will soon visit key partner nations, carrying India’s “shared message of zero-tolerance to terrorism”.
“A powerful reflection of national unity above politics, beyond differences,” Mr Rijiju said.
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.@rsprasad @ShashiTharoor… pic.twitter.com/FerHHACaVK— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) May 17, 2025
Besides Mr Tharoor, the Centre also chose the Opposition leaders Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule.
BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, and JDU’s Sanjay Kumar Jha and Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde — both part of the ruling NDA — will lead the other four delegations.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said the delegations will visit the members of the UN Security Council.
These delegations will “project India’s national consensus” and “resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations”, the Ministry said in an official statement on Saturday.
“They would carry forth to the world the country’s strong message of zero-tolerance against terrorism,” it said.
Sources said BJP leaders Nishikant Dubey, Bansuri Swaraj, Anurag Thakur, MJ Akbar, Samik Bhattacharya, Daggubati Purandeswari and SS Ahluwalia will also be included in the major outreach exercise.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Manish Tewari, Democratic Progressive Azad Party’s Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, Biju Janata Dal’s Sasmit Patra, Aam Aadmi Party’s Vikramjeet Sawhney, and Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas are also expected to be part of the delegations.