'Insecurity jealousy or intolerance': Political slugfest between BJP and Congress over Shashi Tharoor

NEW DELHI: A political slugfest erupted on Saturday over Shashi Tharoor's exclusion and then inclusion from the multi-party delegation list set to go abroad to maintain India's stand on cross-border terrorism and Operation Sindoor.BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya raised questions about Tharoor's position within Congress and asked whether the party is intolerant of anyone who outshines the ‘high command’."No one can deny Shashi Tharoor’s eloquence, his long experience as a United Nations official, and his deep insights on matters of foreign policy. So why has the Congress Party — and Rahul Gandhi in particular — chosen not to nominate him for the multi-party delegations being sent abroad to explain India’s position on key issues?""Is it insecurity? Jealousy? Or simply intolerance of anyone who outshines the ‘high command’?" he asked.Meanwhile, Congress asserted that it is "not going to change" the names of four MPs for the government's proposed delegations to foreign countries."We were asked for names. We expected that the names we had given would be included. We hoped that the names given by the party would be included. But when we saw the press release of PIB, we were surprised. I cannot say what will happen now. Asking four names, giving four names, and announcing another name is dishonest on the government's part. It is possible that' Mr Rijiju had talked to Rahul ji and Kharge even after the government had made up their mind, but I am giving him the benefit of the doubt. But what happened is dishonest. We are not going to change these four names," Jairam said."Yesterday (Tuesday) at 12.30 pm, Rahul ji wrote a letter to Kiren Rijiju and wrote 'Dear Shri Kiren Rijiju, I am writing in follow-up of a conversation with me and Kharge ji regarding the delegation for the Foreign Countries after discussing with Kharge ji I am sending you four names Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Raja Barar and Naseer Hussain'," he added.This comes after the Centre announced seven MPs including Shashi Tharoor, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Sanjay Kumar Jha, and Supriya Sule among others.Following the Centre's announcement, Jairam Ramesh revealed that Rahul Gandhi proposed the names of Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussain, Raja Brar, and Anand Sharma from the party, which seemed to have not been taken into consideration."Yesterday morning, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju spoke with the Congress President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. The INC was asked to submit names of 4 MPs for the delegations to be sent abroad to explain India's stance on terrorism from Pakistan," Jairam said."By noon yesterday, May 16th, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha wrote to the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs giving the following names on behalf of the INC: Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, Raja Brar," he added.The delegations aim to raise global awareness about Pakistan’s continued support for cross-border terrorism and to explain the rationale behind India’s precision strikes under Operation Sindoor following the Pahalgam terror attack.This is the first time that the Centre will depute MPs from multiple parties to present India's stance on Kashmir and cross-border terrorism. An MEA official will accompany each group to assist in briefings and presentations.Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, was a direct military response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 lives. Indian strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir reportedly eliminated over 100 terrorists.