Shashi Tharoor, Picked By Centre For Diplomatic Mission, Was Not Recommended By Congress

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh revealed that Shashi Tharoor was not among the four MPs recommended by Congress for the Centre's diplomatic outreach delegation.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who has been picked to lead the Centre's diplomatic outreach delegation was not recommended by the party, revealed party leader Jairam Ramesh. 

On Saturday, shortly after the Centre announced the names of the seven MP's for the all-party delegation, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh revealed the names of the MPs that were recommended by the party. 

In a post on X, Ramesh said that on Friday, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju spoke with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Rijiju sought the names of four MPs from the party for the delegation. 

Hours later, Rahul Gandhi forwarded four names to Rijiju that included Anand Sharma, Gaurav Gogoi, Syed Naseer Hussian, and Raja Brar but not Tharoor. 

The development comes as Tharoor faces his party's heat for praising the Centre. 

Besides Tharoor, six other MPs are also part of the delegation to carry India's "strong message" of zero-tolerance against terrorism to the world. 

Ravi Shankar Prasad (BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Baijayant Panda (BJP), Kanimozhi (DMK), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), and Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena) are among the parliamentarians who will be part of the delegation. 

'Talent Vaccum In BJP' 

While the Congress welcomed Centre's decision to choose Tharoor to lead the delegation, it also took dig at Bharatiya Janata Party. 

Kerala Congress claimed that the government chose Tharoor for the role due to a "talent vacuum" within the saffron party, asserting that the nation needs a voice that commands global respect. 

“At a time when Prime Minister Modi and his external affairs minister have lost credibility internationally, the nation needs a voice that commands respect. We appreciate the government for recognising the talent vacuum within the BJP and choosing a Congress leader to represent the country,” the party said, reported TOI. 

“We are confident that Shashi Tharoor will present India's case at the global level and correct the mistakes made by the Modi government,” it added.