TMC Names Abhishek Banerjee for Operation Sindoor Delegation: Replacing Yusuf Pathan
Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will join the delegation travelling abroad to present India’s viewpoint on Operation Sindoor, the party announced on Tuesday.
This comes after a recent controversy involving TMC lawmaker and former Indian cricketer Yusuf Pathan. Pathan was initially named by the central government as part of a delegation headed by Janata Dal (United) leader Sanjay Jha. However, he stepped aside on the party’s instructions.
Mamata Banerjee, the West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo, explained that the Centre had not consulted the TMC leadership before naming Pathan. She stated, “We were not contacted about this,” on Monday.
Government Outreach and Replacement
According to party functionaries, the government had only contacted TMC’s Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandopadhyay and later Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien before announcing Pathan’s name. Union parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju reached out to Mamata Banerjee by phone to “seek her suggestion for a representative from TMC”, a party functionary said, indicating a desire to include the TMC in the delegation.
The TMC announced Abhishek Banerjee’s inclusion on X, stating, “At a time when the world must unite to confront the growing threat of terrorism, Shri Abhishek Banerjee’s inclusion brings both conviction and clarity to the table. His presence will not only reflect Bengal’s firm stand against terror but also strengthen India’s collective voice on the global stage.”
Importance of the Selection
Party leaders emphasized that Abhishek Banerjee’s inclusion would add significant political weight to the Trinamool’s representation on the panel. As the second-in-command in the TMC, after Mamata Banerjee, his international exposure could further bolster his leadership credentials.
TMC’s Stance on Terrorism
Abhishek Banerjee, who also serves on the parliamentary standing committee on external affairs, told reporters after a panel meeting on Monday that the TMC would “stand shoulder to shoulder with the Union government” in the fight against terrorism. However, he stressed that the Centre cannot unilaterally decide who represents the TMC.
Past Instances of Disagreement
This is not the first time the TMC has withdrawn a nominee directly named by the government. During the Atal Bihar Vajpayee regime, TMC Lok Sabha MP Sudip Bandopadhyay was invited by the prime minister to take oath as a minister of state. However, Mamata Banerjee wrote to Vajpayee, and ultimately, Sudip Bandopadhyay was not inducted into the Union council of ministers.
This time, the TMC chose to uphold its party principles even on an issue of national security and international diplomacy.
Operation Sindoor Background
The controversy surrounding the delegation selection stems from the Indian government’s initiation of Operation Sindoor, a counter-terrorism operation that has garnered international attention. The government aims to send delegations to world capitals to articulate India’s anti-terror stance following the operation.
