Latest news with #LakshmanRekha
New Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Tharoor named to all-party delegation to expose Pak terror a day after Congress' ‘Lakshman rekha' caution: Report
A day after responding to his party's 'Lakshman Rekha' caution, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has reportedly been named as part of an all-party delegation set to travel to multiple countries next week to highlight Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on the global stage. 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.
News18
16-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Modi Govt Picks Shashi Tharoor For Its Global Outreach Plan In US & Europe Against Pakistan: Sources
Last Updated: According to sources, the government had approached Tharoor to lead the multi-party delegation to US and Europe as he is the chairman of the External Affairs Standing Committee. A day after getting snubbed by Congress for crossing the 'Lakshman Rekha", Shashi Tharoor has been named as a member of the government's all-party delegation set to visit various countries next week to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on the global stage. According to sources, the delegation, led by Shashi Tharoor, will first travel to the US and then to Europe. According to sources, the government had approached Tharoor to lead the multi-party delegation to the US and Europe as he is the chairman of the External Affairs Standing Committee. Meanwhile, it also learnt that a few other Opposition MPs will also be a part of the delegation in addition to Tharoor. TMC leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay was one among the Opposition leaders reached out to by the government. However, sources informed that the Bandyopadhyay has expressed his inconvenience to travel because of his health reasons. As of now, no communication from the government has been received on any other TM MP being part of the all-party delegation. Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party has recommended the name of Rajiv Rai to travel for the delegation meet, as per the sources. Modi Govt's Global Outrach Plan Against Pakistan The all-party delegation being sent by the BJP-led central government is part of a major diplomatic offensive to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism globally. The move came following the success of Operation Sindoor, which was launched in retaliation to the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The government has reached out to several MPs belonging to different political parties, including the Opposition, seeking their participation in the diplomatic mission. Several parties have already approved sending their representatives for this initiative, reported news agency PTI. Reportedly, the delegations are scheduled to visit various countries over a period of 10 days. MPs will be assigned to different regional blocs as designated by the government. First Published: May 16, 2025, 18:47 IST
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Amid ‘Laxman Rekha' row, Modi government names Shashi Tharoor in delegation to expose Pakistan on terrorism
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, a day after responding to his party's 'Lakshman Rekha' warning has been named as a member of the all-party delegation visiting different countries next week to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism on the global stage. The all-party delegation being sent by the Centre is part of a major diplomatic offensive to expose Pakistan-sponsored terrorism globally, following Operation Sindoor, which was launched in retaliation to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam. The government has reached out to MPs from multiple political parties, including opposition members, seeking their participation in the diplomatic mission. Several parties have already approved sending their representatives for this initiative, reported PTI. The report added that while the exact number of delegations and participants is still unclear, some leaders estimate that more than 30 MPs could take part. The delegations are scheduled to visit various countries over a 10-day period. MPs will be assigned to different regional blocs as designated by the government. Before their departure, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) will provide the MPs with a detailed briefing for their diplomatic mission. MPs from parties including the BJP, Congress, TMC, DMK, NCP (SP), JDU, BJD, CPI(M), and others will be part of the delegation, according to sources quoted by PTI. A leader of a party that has been sounded out for the exercise said they were told to be ready to leave by May 22-23 for a period of 10 days and that the MEA would be in touch with them to provide the necessary details, including the itinerary, according to the news agency. Former Union minister Anurag Thakur and BJP MP from Odisha, Aparajita Sarangi, are among the ruling party members set to join the delegations, sources told PTI. At least four Congress MPs—Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tewari, Salman Khurshid, and Amar Singh—have also been approached by the government, and the party has confirmed its participation, the sources said. Other MPs being considered include Sudip Banyopadhyay (TMC), Sanjay Jha (JDU), Sasmit Patra (BJD), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), K Kanimozhi (DMK), John Brittas (CPI-M), and Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM), the sources told PTI. While the government has not officially commented on the delegations, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh told PTI that Union minister Kiren Rijiju had discussed the matter with the Congress president.
Mint
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Shashi Tharoor breaks silence on Congress's crossed ‘Lakshman Rekha' remark: 'Never pretended to…'
Congress MP from Thiruvananthapuram Shashi Tharoor on Thursday said, 'At a time of conflict, I spoke solely as an Indian, making no pretense of representing anyone else', amid speculations of surging rift between him and the grand old party, after his comments on the India-Pakistan conflict. Congress MP Tharoor clarified that he is neither a spokesperson for the party nor the PM Narendra Modi-led Central government. 'Whatever I have said, you may agree or disagree with that, blame it on me individually, and that's fine,' he added, addressing the Congress party's reported remarks that his views did not reflect the party's opinion and references to a 'Lakshman Rekha' boundary regarding his stance on Operation Sindoor. Tharoor emphasised that he had made it abundantly clear that his statements were personal views. 'It was really a contribution to the national discourse, at a time when it was very important for us to rally around the flag, especially internationally,' he explained. Tharoor, while speaking to reporters on Thursday, noted the relative absence of India's perspective being heard abroad, particularly in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East, which motivated his intervention. Shashi Tharoor further stated that people are entirely free to reject his point of view. 'I have received no communication from the party; all I am seeing is media reports,' Tharoor remarked, distancing himself from any official party position and underscoring that his comments were independent and personal. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) made it clear on Wednesday that the current moment calls not for individual opinions but for a unified amplification of the party's official stance. Following the meeting, some senior leaders asserted that Shashi Tharoor had crossed the 'lakshman rekha' with his repeated remarks on the India-Pakistan conflict. According to PTI, sources revealed that these assertions emerged after a gathering of CWC members and senior leaders-including Tharoor, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretaries K.C. Venugopal, Jairam Ramesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Sachin Pilot-held at the party's 24 Akbar Road headquarters. 'We are a democratic party and people keep expressing their opinions, but this time, Tharoor has crossed the lakshman rekha,' a senior party leader remarked following the meeting. Party insiders indicated that, without naming individuals, a clear message was conveyed emphasising that this is not the time for airing personal views but rather for reinforcing the party's collective position. One leader noted that during the meeting, Tharoor aligned with the party line and offered 'constructive suggestions.' Congress MP Shashi Tharoor stated that the nation remains united in its resolve to resist terrorism. Referring to the recent Pahalgam attack, he noted that the government has reportedly identified at least three, possibly four, of the five perpetrators and has vowed to pursue them relentlessly, wherever they may be found. 'I am 100 per cent supporting the government in making such a decision,' he affirmed. Tharoor further observed that, to his knowledge, the primary international engagements involving strikes between India and Pakistan have either concluded or are currently on pause. He expressed a desire not to exacerbate public anxiety, emphasising that terrorism remains a distinct issue. 'You go after the terrorists, we are with the government,' he said, underscoring his full support for the government's actions against terrorism.
News18
15-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Spoke As An Indian': Shashi Tharoor After Congress' Warning Over Remarks On India-Pakistan Conflict
Last Updated: While speaking to the reporters, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said that he expressed his comments as an 'Indian and as a proud citizen.' Senior Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday clarified his stance on supporting the Centre's move in the ongoing India-Pakistan conflict saying that the remarks were made in a personal capacity, and did not reflect the official stand of the grand-old party. While speaking to the reporters, the Thiruvananthapuram MP said that he expressed his comments as an 'Indian and as a proud citizen." 'People seem to think that I have some of the knowledge, so they come and ask my views. But I have made it very clear, sometimes explicitly and sometimes implicitly, that I am expressing my personal views as an Indian and as a proud citizen," he said as reported by news agency PTI. VIDEO | Here's what Congress MP Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) said on party leader Jairam Ramesh's 'not opinion of Congress' remark.'He is absolutely correct. I have made it very clear that I am not a spokesperson of party, I am not a spokesperson of the government, either.… — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 15, 2025 When asked about section of leaders feeling that he had crossed 'Lakshman Rekha" by deviating from the Congress' official stand on Operation Sindoor and subsequent ceasefire announcement, he said that he was not ware of any such discussion during the CWC meeting. 'I don't know where this comes from. I was at a closed door meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). I was there till 6.35pm for the meeting that began at 4.30pm. And I must say that at that time, there was certainly no reference to any of this and no reference to me. If something happened thereafter, I am yet to be informed about it. So when I am informed, I will react to it," he said. The Congress MP's clarification came after it was reported that during the CWC meeting on Wednesday, some leaders asserted that Tharoor crossed ' Lakshman Rekha ' for his comments. Lakshman Rekha, a metaphor originating in Ramayana, loosely means 'boundary", the news agency reported citing the sources. During the Congress Working Committee meeting, which was held to discuss the situation following ceasefire announcement and related developments, including US President Donald Trump announcing the cessation of the conflict between India and Pakistan, Ramesh referred to Tharoor's statements that were in deviance with party line, news agency PTI reported. Reportedly, in the meeting, Tharoor was advised to not to air individual views but amplify the party's official stand. The opposition, which backed the Centre in its action against cross-border linkages in the Pahalgam terror attack, has now questioned the government on what led to the ceasefire and questioned what role the US played in it. The opposition has been requesting an all-party meeting to question the government regarding Trump's claims that his administration helped broker a 'ceasefire" between India and Pakistan. However, the Thiruvananthapuram MP came out in praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying that he has handled it 'extremely well". First Published: May 15, 2025, 17:52 IST
