Indian Parliamentary Delegations Depart for Japan and UAE to Represent India's Stand on Terrorism
On May 21, two parliamentary delegations from India left for Japan and the UAE to present India’s stance on terrorism on global platforms. The first delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha, headed for Japan, while the second delegation, led by Shiv Sena’s young MP Srikant Shinde, left for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Sanjay Jha's delegation includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Braj Lal, Pradhan Barua, Hemang Joshi, and CPI-M's John Britta from Kerala, along with Trinamool Congress' Abhishek Banerjee. Former Congress Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid and former Ambassador Mohan Kumar are also part of the delegation. Interestingly, Salman Khurshid, despite being a preferred choice of the Modi government, was not one of the four names Congress had sent to the government. This delegation will also tour South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Srikant Shinde’s delegation includes BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, Manan Kumar Mishra, Biju Janata Dal MP Sasmit Patra, IUML’s MP E T Mohammad Bashir, former Minister of State for External Affairs and former BJP MP S.S. Ahluwalia, and former Ambassador Sujan Chinoy. This delegation will visit the UAE, Liberia, Congo, and Sierra Leone.
Presenting Evidence on Pakistan's Terrorist History
The delegations will meet with lawmakers, intellectuals, media representatives, influential figures, and members of the Indian diaspora to present evidence on topics such as 'Operation Sindoor,' the Pahalgam terror attack, and Pakistan’s involvement in global terrorism. They will explain why India had to carry out Operation Sindoor, why the Indus Water Treaty had to be suspended, and will present proof of Pakistan's 40-year history of cross-border terrorism. Foreign Ministry Secretary Vikram Misri briefed three of the seven delegations on their assignments abroad during a two-hour session on May 21.
Seven Delegations to Tour 32 Countries and the European Union
It’s noteworthy that seven delegations, comprising 59 members including eight seasoned diplomats, will visit 32 countries and the European Union. A day after Sanjay Jha and Srikant Shinde’s delegations departed, another delegation, led by Kanimozhi, will visit Russia on May 22 and conclude its trip in Spain on June 7, with stops in Latvia, Slovenia, and Greece. On May 24, another delegation led by Supriya Sule will depart for Qatar, followed by visits to Egypt, Ethiopia, and South Africa. Shashi Tharoor’s delegation will depart on May 24 for Guyana, followed by visits to the USA, Panama, Brazil, and Colombia. Ravi Shankar Prasad’s delegation will depart on May 24 for the UK, Germany, France, the EU, Italy, and Denmark. Similarly, another delegation led by Baijayant Panda will depart for Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria on May 24.