Trinamool Congress Chooses Abhishek Banerjee for Global Anti-Terror Delegation
Trinamool Congress Chooses Abhishek Banerjee for Global Anti-Terror Delegation
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee will be part of the parliamentary delegation that will take India’s anti-terror message to the world. This comes after a dispute between the Trinamool Congress and the central government over the selection of MPs for the outreach initiative.
A Diplomatic Row
The Trinamool Congress had objected to the central government choosing a party representative for the outreach program without consulting its leadership. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the party’s leader, even threatened to pull out from the delegation initially. Sources say Union Minister Kiren Rijiju reached out to Ms. Banerjee, seeking her suggestion for a suitable representative. During their conversation, Ms. Banerjee recommended her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, and stressed the need for prior consultation with the party.
Abhishek Banerjee’s Role
The Trinamool Congress emphasized Abhishek Banerjee’s strong stance against terrorism and his ability to represent Bengal’s position on the global stage. Mr. Banerjee, the nephew of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is considered the de facto second-in-command in the party.
Replacing Yusuf Pathan
Sources suggest that Abhishek Banerjee will replace former cricketer Yusuf Pathan, who was initially chosen to be part of the delegation led by JDU’s Sanjay Kumar Jha. While Mr. Pathan hasn’t publicly commented on his withdrawal, it is believed that he opted out.
Global Outreach Program
The program aims to unite the world against terrorism and will involve seven delegations, each led by an MP from a different party. The delegations will visit various countries across the globe, including Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, to convey India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will brief the delegation today, with the trip expected to commence on May 22nd.
Contextual Background
The initiative comes in the wake of India’s Operation Sindoor, a retaliatory strike against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) following the Pahalgam terror attack.
