TMC Replaces Yusuf Pathan: Following a dispute over the federal government selecting MPs for the outreach program without first contacting the party’s leadership, the Trinamool party announced that Abhishek Banerjee will be a member of the parliamentary delegation that will convey India’s anti-terror message to the world.

Weeks after India decisively responded to the Pahalgam incident with Operation Sindoor, seven Members of Parliament from both parties will each head a delegation to a different country as part of the global outreach initiative. “Abhishek Banerjee’s involvement adds conviction and clarity to the table at a time when the world has to come together to face the growing threat of terrorism.

TMC Replaces Yusuf Pathan with Abhishek: 

In addition to demonstrating Bengal’s unwavering opposition to terrorism, his presence will bolster India’s stance internationally, the party stated. Mr. Banerjee is the de facto second-in-command of the Trinamool Congress, which has ruled West Bengal since 2011, since he is the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Yusuf Pathan Not interested?
He is expected to take the place of former cricket player Yusuf Pathan, a party MP who was included in the group headed by Sanjay Kumar Jha of the JDU. Despite not saying anything in public, sources indicate that Mr. Pathan had chosen not to participate in the trip.

When the center selected a party delegate for the outreach program without first engaging its leadership, the Trinamool had protested. Yesterday, an enraged Ms. Banerjee threatened to withdraw from the group, but she indicated she would give it some thought if the government contacted her.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju Call with Ms Banerjee:

Sources said Union Minister Kiren Rijiju called Ms. Banerjee to pacify her and asked her to recommend a Trinamool representative. During their conversation, the Chief Minister proposed her nephew’s name and advised Mr. Rijiju to consult her before finalizing the representative.

Mr. Jha’s delegation includes BJP leaders Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, John Brittas, Prasan Baruah, and Hemang Joshi. The group plans to leave on May 22 and will visit five countries: Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will brief the delegation.

Yesterday, Abhishek Banerjee, MP from Diamond Harbour near Kolkata, criticized the government’s “unilateral decision” to pick a party representative. “The party should decide who joins the delegation,” he said.

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Global Outreach Programme:
The outreach initiative was unveiled on Saturday to demonstrate the nation’s unity and unwavering commitment to fighting terrorism. “The all-party delegations would carry forth to the world the country’s strong message of zero-tolerance against terrorism,” the government had stated.

Shashi Tharoor of the Congress, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda of the BJP, Sanjay Kumar Jha of the JDU, Supriya Sule of the NCP, Shrikant Shinde of the Shiv Sena, and Kanimozhi of the DMK would lead the seven delegations. The outreach comes after Operation Sindoor, in which Indian forces responded to the Pahalgam terror incident by attacking terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK).

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