In a major diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, Centre on Saturday announced a list of 50 Members of Parliament who will be part of seven all-party delegations to key regions across the globe, tasked with taking India’s voice to the world.
The delegations — a mix of ruling party MPs, allies, independents, and members from the Opposition — will travel to over 30 countries spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Among the prominent Opposition leaders chosen to lead delegations are Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who will head the team visiting the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and Guyana; and Supriya Sule of the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), who will lead the group visiting Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa. DMK’s Kanimozhi and JDU’s Sanjay Kumar Jha are also among the group leaders representing the non-BJP bloc.
From the ruling party, BJP MPs Baijayant Panda, Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Shrikant Shinde are leading delegations to Gulf countries, Europe, and Africa, respectively.
The delegation includes
Congress slams “insincerity” of Modi government
However, the list has stirred political controversy.
The Congress party, which had originally recommended four of its leaders — excluding Shashi Tharoor— for the delegations, issued a sharp statement late Saturday night.
“In the morning of May 16th, the Modi Govt asked for four names of Congress MPs/leaders to represent the INC,” said Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh. “These names were submitted by noon the same day. But only one of those names was included in the final list released on May 17th night. This proves the complete insincerity of the Modi Govt and shows the cheap political games it always plays on serious national issues.”
Calling the Congress nominees “eminent leaders”, Ramesh said they will still participate and contribute. “The INC will not stoop to the pathetic level of the PM and BJP. It will always uphold the finest traditions of parliamentary democracy.”
While reiterating its support to the international outreach, the Congress also stressed that the delegations “should not divert attention” from its demands: an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and a special session of Parliament to reaffirm the historic 1994 resolution on PoK.
The delegations — a mix of ruling party MPs, allies, independents, and members from the Opposition — will travel to over 30 countries spanning Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Among the prominent Opposition leaders chosen to lead delegations are Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who will head the team visiting the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Panama, and Guyana; and Supriya Sule of the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction), who will lead the group visiting Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa. DMK’s Kanimozhi and JDU’s Sanjay Kumar Jha are also among the group leaders representing the non-BJP bloc.
From the ruling party, BJP MPs Baijayant Panda, Ravi Shankar Prasad, and Shrikant Shinde are leading delegations to Gulf countries, Europe, and Africa, respectively.
The delegation includes
- Group 1, led by Baijayant Panda (BJP), will visit Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria. It includes BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak, Rekha Sharma, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, nominated MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, and Ghulam Nabi Azad.
- Group 2, under Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), will travel to UK, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, and the European Union. Members include BJP’s D. Purandeswari, Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress’ Amar Singh, and others.
- Group 3, led by Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), will visit Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. It includes MPs from BJP, CPI(M), TMC, and Congress’ Salman Khurshid.
- Group 4, led by Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), is bound for UAE, Liberia, DR Congo, and Sierra Leone. Other members include BJP’s Bansuri Swaraj, IUML’s ET Mohammed Basheer, and BJD’s Sasmit Patra.
- Group 5, led by Shashi Tharoor (Congress), will cover the USA, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, and Colombia. MPs from LJP, JMM, TDP, BJP, and Shiv Sena are part of this delegation.
Group 6, led by Kanimozhi Karunanidhi (DMK), will go to Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, and Russia. It includes MPs from SP, NC, RJD, AAP, and BJP. - Group 7, led by Supriya Sule (NCP – Sharad Pawar group), will visit Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa. BJP’s Anurag Thakur, Congress’ Manish Tewari, and TDP’s Lavu Devarayalu are also part of this team.
Congress slams “insincerity” of Modi government
However, the list has stirred political controversy.
The Congress party, which had originally recommended four of its leaders — excluding Shashi Tharoor— for the delegations, issued a sharp statement late Saturday night.
“In the morning of May 16th, the Modi Govt asked for four names of Congress MPs/leaders to represent the INC,” said Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh. “These names were submitted by noon the same day. But only one of those names was included in the final list released on May 17th night. This proves the complete insincerity of the Modi Govt and shows the cheap political games it always plays on serious national issues.”
Statement by Shri Jairam Ramesh
— Congress (@INCIndia) May 17, 2025
On May 16th morning the Modi Govt asked for 4 names of Congress MPs/leaders to represent the INC in the delegations being sent abroad to explain India' stance on terrorism from Pakistan. These 4 names were conveyed in writing by the LoP Lok Sabha…
Calling the Congress nominees “eminent leaders”, Ramesh said they will still participate and contribute. “The INC will not stoop to the pathetic level of the PM and BJP. It will always uphold the finest traditions of parliamentary democracy.”
While reiterating its support to the international outreach, the Congress also stressed that the delegations “should not divert attention” from its demands: an all-party meeting chaired by the Prime Minister and a special session of Parliament to reaffirm the historic 1994 resolution on PoK.
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