Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, May 17: Tensions escalated between the Congress party and the NDA government on Saturday after the Centre announced a list of multi-party delegates for the international outreach under Operation Sindoor, naming Shashi Tharoor among those leading the missions abroad. The Congress called the move “dishonest and diversionary,” claiming it undermined the process of political consultation.

Shashi Tharoor’s inclusion sparked the controversy, as he was not among the four MPs officially nominated by the Congress following a request from Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. According to Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, the party submitted its list – comprising Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Raja Brar, and Syed Nasir Hussain – shortly after the minister’s call on Friday morning.

“There was no mention of a parallel list,” said Ramesh. “We were asked for four names and we gave them. Now the government has gone ahead and named its own set of Congress leaders. That is simply dishonest and an attempt to divert attention.”

The government's version, however, features Congress leaders Tharoor, Salman Khurshid, Manish Tewari, and Amar Singh – none of whom were on the official Congress list. Despite the mismatch, government sources have indicated that they plan to proceed with the names already announced.

When asked about Tharoor accepting the invitation and the possibility of others joining the tour, Ramesh responded cautiously: “We’ve done what was asked of us. What happens next is the government’s prerogative. But we acted with integrity – the government didn’t.”

Asked whether Tharoor’s acceptance of the government invitation amounted to party indiscipline, Ramesh offered a cryptic remark: “There’s a difference between being in the Congress and being of the Congress.”

He also clarified that the Congress has no plans to take action against Khurshid, Tewari, or Singh should they choose to participate in the government-led outreach.

Ramesh further criticized the broader effort as a “damage control exercise,” arguing that the government was scrambling to reclaim control of the narrative around Operation Sindoor. “They’ve already lost the plot. This is just optics,” he said.

Highlighting broader geopolitical concerns, Ramesh demanded a special session of Parliament to reaffirm India's commitment to the February 22, 1994 resolution, asserting that the entire territory of Jammu and Kashmir, including PoK, is an integral part of India.

Drawing a historical parallel, Ramesh invoked Indira Gandhi’s firm stance during the 1971 crisis, contrasting it with what he called Prime Minister Modi’s continued silence on recent remarks by the U.S. President. “He said for the seventh time that he mediated between India and Pakistan and used trade as leverage. Yet the PM says nothing,” Ramesh stated.

As the row deepens, it remains uncertain how Congress’s nominated MPs and the government’s selected delegates will reconcile the growing disconnect. For now, both sides appear to be holding their ground.