'Dishonest': Congress on BJP declaring names outside their list of four for all-party delegation

NEW DELHI: Calling the Centre "dishonest" for not naming any names among the four MPs for government delegations to explain India's position on Pakistan-based terrorism, the Congress said that they are not going to change the proposed list.

This statement came after the government released a list of a seven-member delegation, including Shashi Tharoor , meant to brief global leaders about Operation Sindoor .

"We were asked for names. We expected that the names we had given would be included. We hoped that the names given by the party would be included. But when we saw the press release of PIB, we were surprised. I cannot say what will happen now. Asking four names, giving four names, and announcing another name is dishonest on the government's part. It is possible that' Mr Rijiju had talked to Rahul ji and Kharge even after the government had made up their mind, but I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. But what happened is dishonest. We are not going to change these four names," Jairam Ramesh said.

"Yesterday (Tuesday) at 12.30 pm, Rahul ji wrote a letter to Kiren Rijiju and wrote 'Dear Shri Kiren Rijiju, I am writing in follow-up of a conversation with me and Kharge ji regarding the delegation for the Foreign Countries after discussing with Kharge ji I am sending you four names Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Raja Barar and Naseer Hussain'," Ramesh said, giving the details of the letter written to Kiren Rijiju by LoP Rahul Gandhi.

He emphasised the distinction between individuals who are merely in Congress versus those who truly belong to Congress. The party expressed surprise at the final list despite their consistent cooperation with the government's initiatives.

Earlier, even in a post on X, Jairam Ramesh emhasised that he proposed four names and the list doesn't include Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor.

The delegations aim to raise global awareness about Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism and to explain the rationale behind India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack.This is the first time that the Centre will depute MPs from multiple parties to present India's stance on Kashmir and cross-border terrorism. An MEA official will accompany each group to assist in briefings and presentations.

BJP calls out Congress for proposed names

BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya attacked Congress for the names it proposed and said that grand-old-party's "choices to represent India at diplomatic meetings are not just intriguing — they are deeply questionable."

"The Congress party’s choices to represent India at diplomatic meetings are not just intriguing — they are deeply questionable. Take, for instance, the inclusion of Syed Naseer Hussain in a delegation representing India. It is truly shocking. Let’s not forget — it was his supporter who raised “Pakistan Zindabad” slogans inside the Vidhana Soudha while celebrating his Rajya Sabha victory. Bengaluru police arrested three individuals in connection with the incident, based on a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report, circumstantial evidence, and witness testimonies," Malviya said."

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has accused Gogoi of spending 15 days in Pakistan, stating that his arrival and departure were officially recorded at the Atari border. Sarma further claimed that Gogoi’s wife, Elizabeth Colebourn, accompanied him for the first seven days before returning to India, while Gogoi remained in Islamabad. Apparently, upon his return, Gogoi took around 90 youths to the Pakistan Embassy — many reportedly unaware of where they were being taken," he added.