Operation Sindoor: BJP smells 'jealousy' as Congress ditches Tharoor, nominates Hussain, Gogoi as part of multi-party delegation

New Delhi: BJP on Saturday questioned the Congress for not recommending Shashi Tharoor's name to be part of a multi-party delegation being sent to various countries, asking was it because of "intolerance" of anyone who "outshines the high command".

It also questioned the nomination of Gaurav Gogoi and Syed Naseer Hussain's inclusion in the Congress list, alleging that the former stayed in Pakistan for 15 days and the latter's supporters raised 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans. Besides the two, Congress had recommended Anand Sharma and Raja Brar as its choices for the delegation.

BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya posted on 'X', “no one can deny Shashi Tharoor’s eloquence, his long experience as a United Nations official, and his deep insights on matters of foreign policy.”

“So why has the Congress Party — and Rahul Gandhi in particular — chosen not to nominate him for the multi-party delegations being sent abroad to explain India’s position on key issues? Is it insecurity? Jealousy? Or simply intolerance of anyone who outshines the ‘high command’?” he asked.

He also alleged that Congress' choices to represent India at diplomatic meetings are "not just intriguing -- they are deeply questionable" and levelled allegations against Hussain and Gogoi.

"How can MPs facing such grave allegations be trusted to represent India -- particularly on matters involving Pakistan? What message is the Congress trying to send, and whose interests are really being served?" he claimed. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also urged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to drop Gogoi from the list of four MPs nominated by his party.

Separately, Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha floor leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay expressed his inability to join the multi-party delegations due to health reasons. He said he had received a call from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and the Ministry of External Affairs with a request to be part of the delegation going to the United States.

CPI(M) said it has deputed its Rajya Sabha floor leader John Brittas to be part of the delegation in larger national interest “despite our reservations” over the Prime Minister refusing to convene a special session of Parliament but calling a meeting of NDA Chief Ministers. “Despite our reservations…in the larger national interest we feel obliged to be part of such a delegation,” it said.