Tharoor named to all-party delegation to expose Pak terror a day after Congress' ‘Lakshman rekha' caution: Report
The move comes as the NDA government launches a major diplomatic campaign against terrorism in the wake of Operation Sindoor. As part of the initiative, multi-party delegations comprising MPs from both the ruling alliance and key Opposition parties will travel to five to six countries, including the US, UK, and several Islamic nations. These delegations will meet heads of state and senior officials to explain India's rationale behind the operation and build global consensus against cross-border terrorism.
The delegations, divided into regional blocs as earmarked by the government, will travel for 10 days starting around May 22–23. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will brief the MPs ahead of their departure and share detailed itineraries.
Among the parties participating are the BJP, Congress, TMC, DMK, NCP (SP), JDU, BJD, CPI(M), and others. Former Union minister Anurag Thakur and BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi are among the ruling party members in the delegations.
PTI has reported that Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Salman Khurshid, and Amar Singh have been named as part of the delegations, and said that the party has confirmed its participation in the initiative.
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Hindustan Times
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Congress among culprits responsible for Partition, says NCERT module
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Hindustan Times
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Posthumous Vir Chakra for 2 BSF soldiers
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Hindustan Times
6 minutes ago
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Anti-terror heroes get top gallantry honours
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The Kirti Chakra has been awarded to Captain Lalrinawwa Sailo, Lieutenant Shashank Tiwari, Lance Naik Meenatchi Sundaram A and Sepoy Janjal Pravin Prabhakar. The President also approved 290 Mention-in-Despatches. India launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7 and struck terror and military installations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the Pahalgam terror strike in which 26 people were killed. Between the launch of the operation in the early hours of May 7 and the ceasefire on May 10 evening, Indian forces bombed nine terror camps in Pakistan and PoK, killing at least 100 terrorists, and the Indian Air Force struck targets at 13 Pakistani airbases and military installations. The nine terror camps hit by the Indian forces with a mix of missiles and smart munitions included Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur, Markaz Taiba near Muridke, Mehmoona Joya in Sialkot, Sawai Nala and Syed Na Bilal in Muzaffarabad, Gulpur and Abbas in Kotli, Barnala in Bhimber, and Sarjal. The targets in Bahawalpur and Muridke were hit by the IAF; the rest by the army. The air force also struck military targets in Rafiqui, Murid, Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Chunian, Pasrur, Sialkot, Skardu, Sargodha, Jacobabad, Bholari and Malir Cantt in Karachi. In one of the counterstrikes on the night of May 7-8, Islamabad launched aerial attacks using drones and missiles at multiple towns and cities, including Awantipora, Srinagar, Jammu, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Adampur, Bathinda, Chandigarh, Pathankot, Phalodi, Suratgarh, Uttarlai, Nal and Bhuj. India's air defence shield fended off the attacks. In an address to soldiers, defence minister Rajnath Singh said Operation Sindoor was a balanced military response that signalled India is no longer bound by traditional boundaries, but is using modern technology, accurate intelligence and smart military strategies to target terror. 'It was a clear message from India that we are tolerant, but when it comes to the safety of our people and the dignity of our country, we unite and face every challenge boldly. Operation Sindoor is a part of India's new policy, a clear message that no matter how deep the roots of terrorism are, its complete destruction will be ensured,' he said. The success of Operation Sindoor will be celebrated at the Independence Day function at Red Fort on Friday. A Mi-17 helicopter will fly a flag depicting Operation Sindoor, the invitation cards carry the operation's distinct logo, the view cutter at Gyanpath will also showcase the logo, and the floral decoration will be based on the operation. At least five Pakistani combat jets and a large surveillance aircraft were shot down by Indian air defence weapons, primarily the S-400 system, during the four days of hostilities between the two countries in May, chief of the air staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh said last week, the first official acknowledgment of such successes by the Indian side. Air Chief Marshal Singh, who was delivering a public lecture in Bengaluru, said attacks by the Indian military also destroyed or damaged at least two Pakistani command and control centres, at least six big and small radars, two surface-to-air guided weapons (SAGW) systems, and the runways and hangars at the airbases in Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Sukkur, Bholari and Jacobabad. Sons of former IAF chiefs among heroes Among the Operation Sindoor heroes decorated with medals are the sons of two former IAF chiefs. The 26 IAF personnel awarded the Vayu Sena Medal (Gallantry) include Group Captain Omar Browne and Squadron Leader Mihir Vivek Chaudhari. Both of them are fighter pilots, like their fathers. While Omar is the son of Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne (retd), Mihir's father Air Chief Marshal Vivek Ram Chaudhari was the IAF chief until last year. Sena medals for Agniveers Two Agniveers have been awarded Sena Medal (Gallantry) for the first time. It is unclear if they have been hailed for Operation Sindoor or counter-terror operations in Jammu and Kashmir. To be sure, more than 3,000 Agniveers --- barely 20 years old and recruited during the last two years --- manned critical weapons and systems integral to the army's hardy air defence (AD) shield activated during Operation Sindoor, which Pakistan couldn't punch through despite launching wave after wave of missile and drone attacks on multiple Indian military installations, airbases and cities during the May 7-10 clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
