Opposition agrees to join govt.’s diplomatic outreach on India-Pakistan conflict

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has reached out to senior leaders from the Opposition and NDA as the government gets ready to send eight delegations to other countries to present India’s point of view on the recent conflict with Pakistan. File.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has reached out to senior leaders from the Opposition and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as the government gets ready to send eight delegations to major countries in Europe, West Asia and Africa, to present India’s point of view on the recent conflict with Pakistan. 

According to sources, several leaders have accepted the invitation.

The Hindu reported on Thursday on the government’s initiative to rope in major political parties for a diplomatic outreach, put up a united front against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, and explain India’s position on the conflict triggered by the Pahalgam attack.

These delegations, comprising roughly 10 members each, will have parliamentarians, former diplomats and strategic experts. The Ministry of External Affairs will be briefing the members in a day or two with further details. 

Sources said Mr. Rijiju spoke to several leaders between Thursday night and Friday morning. He called them to check their availability and willingness. The JD(U)‘s Sanjay Jha, the BJD’s Sasmit Patra, John Brittas of the the CPI(M), Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (UBT), Supriya Sule of the NCP (SP), the DMK’s K. Kanimozhi, the AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and the AAP’s Vikramjit Sawhney are some of the leaders whom Mr. Rijiju rang up. 

The government has tapped at least four Congress leaders for the tour. They are Lok Sabha MPs Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Amar Singh and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid. Mr. Tharoor, who has been under fire for his recent remarks on the negotiations between India and Pakistan, has refused to confirm or deny his presence in the delegation. 

After the government reached out to some Congress leaders individually, party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi discussed the issue and nominated Anand Sharma as well from the party. Mr. Sharma has held the Commerce and External Affairs portfolios in the past. The government is insisting that Mr. Tharoor head one of the delegations.

‘Double standard’

Meanwhile, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh, in a post on X questioned the double standard of the government. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a meeting of only NDA Chief Ministers on May 25 to take “political mileage” from Operation Sindoor. “But he now wants MPs from all parties to go abroad as a delegation for explaining India’s stance on terrorism from Pakistan. The diplomatic initiative is badly needed but why these double standards.” 

He also confirmed the Congress’s participation. “Keeping national interest above all, the Congress will certainly join the delegation of multi-party MPs. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has spoken to the Congress president, who will depute party leaders,” he said. 

Trinamool Congress’ Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandhopadhyay, as per sources, had declined the invitation citing his medical condition and the short notice. Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar also spoke to Mr. Bandhopadhyay. It is not yet clear whether the Trinamool will nominate another leader in his place. 

A senior functionary in the DMK, while confirming that Mr. Rijiju spoke to party’s parliamentary leader Kanimozhi, said the government is yet to provide information on the destination and other details. 

Under Operation Sindoor, India carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir early on May 7 in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.