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According to sources, the party has instructed its Lok Sabha MP Yusuf Pathan, who was included in one of the delegations, not to be part of the official visit
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (Image: PTI)
The Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday informed the Centre that it will not not participate in the seven all-party delegations being sent abroad to convey India’s strong message against terrorism following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
According to sources, the party has instructed its Lok Sabha MP Yusuf Pathan, who was included in one of the delegations, not to be part of the official visit. TMC has not provided an official reason for opting out, but the decision has been communicated to the central government.
The government had earlier announced that it would dispatch seven multi-party delegations to key global capitals—including member countries of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)—to build diplomatic support for India’s position on terrorism, especially after the recent cross-border counter-terror operation dubbed Operation Sindoor.
The delegations are to be led by senior leaders from across the political spectrum, including Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Kanimozhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), and Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena).
In total, 51 political leaders, including sitting MPs and former Union ministers, will visit 32 countries and the EU headquarters in Brussels, to present India’s stand on cross-border terrorism and its zero-tolerance policy.
On Saturday, Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called the initiative on social media, saying: “One mission. One message. One Bharat. Seven All-Party Delegations will soon engage key nations under #OperationSindoor, reflecting our collective resolve against terrorism.”
The delegations also include former Union ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad, MJ Akbar, Anand Sharma, V Muraleedharan, Salman Khurshid, SS Ahluwalia, who are not members of parliament at present.
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(With inputs from agencies)
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