Shashi Tharoor row: Jairam Ramesh calls BJP's move 'cheap political game', warns Congress MP on anti-Pak mission

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday called out the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for including Kerala MP Shashi Tharoor's name for the anti-Pakistan diplomatic mission, despite the party not suggesting his name. The Congress leader said the "delegates" must not divert attention from the opposition's demands regarding 'Operation Sindoor'. 

 

In a statement, Congress secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said the Congress party suggested the names of four MPs after the Union government contacted Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and sought names for its diplomatic mission against Pakistan. "These 4 names were conveyed in writing by the LoP Lok Sabha to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs by 12 noon on May 16th itself. Very late tonight (May 17th) the full list of members of all delegations has been officially released."

 

"Most regrettably only one of the four names suggested by the INC leadership has been included. This proves the complete insincerity of the Modi Govt and shows the cheap political games it always plays on serious national issues", Ramesh charged. The Congress leader said the party will not stop the MPs "included at the instance of the Modi government" and they will make their contributions. "The INC will not stoop to the pathetic level of the PM and the BJP. It will always uphold the finest traditions of Parliamentary democracy and not play partisan politics on national security issues, like the BJP does," Ramesh said.

 

However, the Congress leader had a cryptic warning for the delegates. "These delegations should not, however, divert attention from the INC's demands to have all-party meetings chaired by the PM and for a special session of Parliament to reiterate the resolution adopted on Feb 22, 1994, while also taking note of developments thereafter."

 

A huge row erupted on Saturday after the Centre named Tharoor as the leader of one of the delegations that would visit partner countries to present India's views on cross-border terrorism. However, Tharoor's name was not mentioned in the official list of the Congress party. Congress suggested the names of MPs Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain and Raja Brar.

 

India