7 MPs To Carry Anti-Terror Message To World, Shashi Tharoor Gets Key Role

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who has been facing his party's heat for praising the Centre after Operation Sindoor, will lead an all-party delegation to carry India's "strong message" of zero-tolerance against terrorism to the world.

The government on Saturday named Mr Tharoor and six other MPs to carry out the major outreach exercise, which comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor -- the Indian offensive against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) following the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam last month.

"In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju posted on X.

He said the seven all-party delegations will soon visit key partner nations, carrying India's "shared message of zero-tolerance to terrorism".

"A powerful reflection of national unity above politics, beyond differences," Mr Rijiju said.

In moments that matter most, Bharat stands united.
Seven All-Party Delegations will soon visit key partner nations, carrying our shared message of zero-tolerance to terrorism.
A powerful reflection of national unity above politics, beyond differences.@rsprasad @ShashiTharoor… pic.twitter.com/FerHHACaVK

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) May 17, 2025

Mr Tharoor, a former diplomat, said he was "honoured" by the invitation of the government of India to lead the all-party delegation.

"When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting," he posted on X.

Besides Mr Tharoor, the Centre chose two other Opposition leaders -- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) leader Supriya Sule.

BJP's Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda, and Janata Dal United's Sanjay Kumar Jha and Shiv Sena's Shrikant Shinde -- both part of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) -- will lead the other four delegations.

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said the delegations will also visit the members of the UN Security Council.

These delegations will "project India's national consensus" and "resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations", the Ministry said in an official statement on Saturday.

"They would carry forth to the world the country's strong message of zero-tolerance against terrorism," it said.

Sources said BJP leaders Nishikant Dubey, Bansuri Swaraj, Anurag Thakur, MJ Akbar, Samik Bhattacharya, Daggubati Purandeswari and SS Ahluwalia will also be included in the diplomatic exercise.

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Manish Tewari, Democratic Progressive Azad Party's Ghulam Nabi Azad, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi, Biju Janata Dal's Sasmit Patra, Aam Aadmi Party's Vikramjeet Sawhney, Communist Party of India (Marxist) MP John Brittas and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders Krishna Devarayalu Lavu and Ganti Harish Madhur are also expected to be part of the delegations.

These leaders are likely to visit different countries for 10 days, starting May 23.

India-Pakistan Tensions

India, after finding cross-border links to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 people dead, launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and attacked nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

The Indian armed forces destroyed multiple camps of terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen, and killed more than 100 terrorists.

After the Indian armed forces' overnight operations, the Pakistani Army launched drones and missiles at western parts of India, which were successfully intercepted. India then hit selected military targets deep inside Pakistani territory.

The two countries reached a ceasefire agreement on May 10 to halt military actions with immediate effect after four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes.