Congress accuses Modi govt of indulging in 'cheap political games' amid delegation row

New Delhi: Government’s rejection of all but one name suggested by it and inclusion of at least two leaders who are considered “not favourites” of the leadership in multi-party delegations have come as a setback for the Congress, which accused the Modi dispensation of indulging in “cheap political games”.

However, the party will not block its five selected leaders from participating in the global exercise aimed at impressing upon countries about Pakistan’s sponsorship of cross-border terrorism, even as it saw the government move as a snub to its leadership after initiating talks with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.

Government rejected the names of Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain and Raja Brar, ignoring Rahul’s written recommendation while inviting Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Salman Khurshid and Amar Singh to be part of the delegations. The only one recommended by Rahul to find a place in a delegation was Anand Sharma.

Adding more trouble, DMK and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar), whose Kanimozhi and Supriya Sule were also chosen as delegation leaders, did not join in Congress’ protest against ignoring its recommendations. The government also made Tharoor head of one of the seven delegations.

Soon after the government unveiled the composition of the delegations late Saturday, Congress issued a statement finding fault with the government over rejection of three of the four names suggested by the party.

The party demanded that these delegations should not, however, “divert attention” from the demands for an all-party meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a special session of Parliament to “reiterate the resolution adopted on Feb 22 1994 while also taking note of developments thereafter”.

It recalled that the Modi government had on Friday morning sought four names from the Congress, which were conveyed to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju by Rahul Gandhi at 12 noon.

Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh said, “most regrettably only one of the four names suggested by the Congress leadership has been included. This proves the complete insincerity of the Modi government and shows the cheap political games it always plays on serious national issues.”

Wishing the delegations “all the very best”, Ramesh added, “the four eminent Congress MPs/leaders who have been included at the instance of the Modi Govt will, of course, go with the delegations and make their contributions. The Congress will not stoop to the pathetic level of the PM and the BJP.”

He claimed Congress will always uphold the finest traditions of Parliamentary democracy and not play partisan politics on national security issues, like the BJP does.