The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has conveyed to the Narendra Modi-led Union Government that it will not send Yusuf Pathan or any other party MP as a part of the multi-party delegations announced by the Modi Government for the ‘Operation Sindoor’ foreign outreach for India’s war against terror from Pakistan.
Notably, the Union Government has named cricketer-turned-politician Yusuf Pathan, who is a TMC MP from the Baharampur Lok Sabha seat, as a member of one of the seven multi-party delegations, which are going to visit several countries in the coming days to convey India’s message in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
It is to be noted that Yusuf Pathan is the only TMC member included in such a delegation.
Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee on this matter asserted that, “We stand with the Central Government on all decisions related to national interest, combating terrorism, and safeguarding the country. However, the Central Government cannot decide who will represent the Trinamool Congress in the delegation. It is our party’s prerogative to choose our representatives. If you want one member, we can provide five—but the Central Government must demonstrate good intent,” he said.
Hours after the comment of Abhishek Banerjee, TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee said, “They (Centre) cannot decide the name. If they request the mother party, the party will decide the name. This is the custom; this is the system. We are with the Central Government regarding external affairs policy, and we are fully supporting them.”
Later on, according to sources, Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan, who was named by the government as part of the delegation, backed out his name and said he will not be participating in the initiative, sources said. The former cricketer-turned-politician conveyed that he will not be available to join the delegation.
Mamata Banerjee’s party based its decision also on the view that foreign policy falls under the Centre’s jurisdiction, and the Central Government should take full responsibility for it, sources said.
Whilst TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay declined participation citing health concerns, TMC MP Yusuf Pathan, whose name appeared on the list, will also not attend.
The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated by the Indian Government to counter global misinformation and highlight India’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism in over 30 countries.
Fifty-one political leaders, parliamentarians, and former ministers cutting across party lines have been named as members of seven delegations.
These delegations will travel to a wide range of nations, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Algeria, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the European Union, Italy, Denmark, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Liberia, Congo, Sierra Leone, the United States, Panama, Guyana, Brazil, Colombia, Spain, Greece, Slovenia, Latvia, Russia, Egypt, Qatar, Ethiopia, and South Africa.
