Trinamool names Abhishek Banerjee for Op Sindoor delegation after Yusuf Pathan row
The Trinamool Congress has nominated Abhishek Banerjee for an all-party parliamentary delegation for Operation Sindoor global outreach, sources told India Today. The move comes a day after MP Yusuf Pathan opted out of the delegation.The Centre has picked 51 political leaders, parliamentarians and former ministers cutting across party lines as members of seven delegations travelling to world capitals to put across India's resolve to tackle terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.advertisementHowever, the Trinamool Congress was unhappy that the Centre did not consult the party before choosing members.Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee claimed that no request for names for the delegation came to the 'mother party.''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,' Mamata Banerjee told reporters.Trinamool leader Abhishek Banerjee had earlier stressed that the party supports the government on matters of national security, but asserted that it is not the government's role to decide who will represent the party."We stand with the Central Government on all decisions related to the 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.advertisementYusuf Pathan was selected as a member of the delegation led by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, which will be visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, and Singapore. However, the former cricketer-turned-politician said that he will not be available to join the delegation.Another Trinamool leader, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, earlier said that he was also invited to participate in the outreach, but declined due to health reasons.
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