Operation Sindoor: “Will Not Stoop…,” Says Congress On The Omission Of Names Of Proposed List Of Leaders
New Delhi, 18 May — The Indian National Congress has strongly criticised the central government over the exclusion of three out of four names it had officially submitted for inclusion in the all-party delegations set to represent India abroad under Operation Sindoor. These delegations are being dispatched to key global capitals to articulate India’s stance on terrorism in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent precision strike India undertook inside Pakistan.
On May 16, the government of India reached out to the Congress seeking four names to be part of the official delegations. The request was made by Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who reportedly held discussions with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. By noon that same day, the Congress submitted its list, naming senior leaders Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, and Amarinder Singh Raja Brar.
However, when the official list of participants was released late on May 17, it became evident that only one of the Congress’s nominees—Anand Sharma—had been included. The three others were omitted. Instead, Congress MPs Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, and Dr Amar Singh were included by the government.
Reacting to this, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh issued a scathing statement late on Friday night, calling the move emblematic of the Modi government’s “insincerity” and accusing it of playing “cheap political games” on matters of national security. “The INC will not stoop to the pathetic level of the PM and the BJP,” he said. “It will always uphold the finest traditions of Parliamentary democracy and not play partisan politics on national security issues, like the BJP does.”
Ramesh added that the Congress’s nominated members, even if only one was selected, would contribute meaningfully to the delegations. But he stressed that this political manoeuvring would not distract the party from its key demand: an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and a special session of Parliament to reaffirm the 1994 resolution seeking the return of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
In a statement earlier in the day on Saturday, Ramesh termed the government’s move “a political afterthought” and suggested that the names may have already been finalised prior to any outreach to the Congress leadership. Drawing a cricketing analogy, he said, “While the Congress is playing by rules, the other party (the BJP) is targeting the bodyline”—a reference to unethical, aggressive tactics.
He clarified that the Congress had proposed its list in good faith and not with any “malicious mindset.” He pointed out that Anand Sharma, a three-time MP and former Union Minister, was among the country’s most experienced voices on foreign policy. The omission of the other names, he argued, only highlights the government’s political motivations.
This move marks a significant international push by India, with seven all-party delegations scheduled to visit strategic global capitals, including members of the UN Security Council. The stated goal is to convey a united Indian stand on cross-border terrorism, particularly emanating from Pakistan.
Each delegation comprises MPs from different political parties, former diplomats, and prominent public figures. Among the leaders are Shashi Tharoor (INC), Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Kanimozhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP), Baijayant Panda (BJP), and Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena). They will travel to countries such as the US, UK, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Japan, UAE, and Brazil.
Despite its reservations, the Congress reiterated its support for the delegations, emphasising that national unity must prevail in the fight against terrorism. But it cautioned against using the exercise to divert attention from domestic failures or avoid larger parliamentary scrutiny. Ramesh reiterated that key issues such as the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, the ongoing challenges posed by Pakistan and China, and evolving relations with the US must be debated in Parliament.
He also criticised the Modi government for its silence on statements made by former US President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly claimed credit for mediating peace between India and Pakistan. Ramesh argued that this undermined India’s sovereign response to terror attacks and questioned why Prime Minister Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had not responded to Trump’s assertions or to recent comments by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Referring to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, Ramesh recalled how then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had stood up to US pressure, affirming India’s independence in matters of foreign policy. “Operation Sindoor was stopped for trade,” he said, accusing the Modi government of compromising strategic decisions for economic considerations.
He further questioned India’s decision to abstain during the IMF vote on granting financial assistance to Pakistan, suggesting that New Delhi should have opposed the move outright.
In closing, Ramesh called upon the Prime Minister to invite all Chief Ministers—not just those from the NDA—for the upcoming national security briefing on 25 May. He asserted that the Congress, though sidelined in this diplomatic outreach, remains steadfast in its commitment to national security and democratic values. “Lakhs of Congressmen and Congresswomen are not just in the Congress; they are of the Congress,” he said.
