Selected as one of the MPs to lead government delegations carrying India's message against terrorism, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has said that he will always be ready to serve his country in matters of national interest.
Mr Tharoor is among the seven MPs, and among the three from Opposition parties, who have been tasked with carrying forth to the world the country's "strong message of zero-tolerance against terrorism".
Others include Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda from the BJP, Sanjay Kumar Jha from JDU, Shrikant Shinde from Shiv Sena, Kanimozhi from DMK, and Supriya Sule from NCP (SP).
Welcoming the invitation, Mr Tharoor said on X that when national interest is involved, he would "not be found wanting".
"I am honoured by the invitation of the government of India to lead an all-party delegation to five key capitals, to present our nation's point of view on recent events. When national interest is involved, and my services are required, I will not be found wanting. Jai Hind!" he said.
Less than an hour after the Centre's announcement, the Congress said that Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi had submitted four names from their party for inclusion in the delegations to Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. The list did not have Mr Tharoor's name.
The Congress recommendations included Anand Sharma, former Cabinet Minister, Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader in the Lok Sabha, Dr Syed Naseer Hussain, a Rajya Sabha MP, and Raja Brar, Lok Sabha MP, according to Congress leader Jairam Ramesh.
The diplomatic outreach is being carried out after Operation Sindoor, as part of which Indian forces struck terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack.
The all-party delegations will visit key partner countries and the UN Security Council later this month.
These delegations will "project India's national consensus" and "resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations", the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs said in an official statement.
"They would carry forth to the world the country's strong message of zero-tolerance against terrorism," it said.
NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule also said she is honoured to join the all-party delegation representing India on the global stage.
"I humbly accept this responsibility and thank Hon'ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister Kiren Rijiju, and the Ministry of External Affairs. I am deeply grateful to the people of Baramati Lok Sabha constituency for your continued support. Our mission is to convey India's united and unwavering message of zero tolerance against terrorism. We stand as one nation-proud, strong, and unwavering," she wrote in a post on X.
