Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan will not be participating in the government’s foreign outreach program related to Operation Sindoor, despite being named as part of an all-party parliamentary delegation. According to Trinamool Congress (TMC) sources, Pathan’s inclusion happened without prior consultation with the party, even though the central government had reached out to him directly.
The decision not to participate is consistent with TMC’s stance that foreign policy is strictly under the purview of the Union government. A senior party leader stated that while the party supports all efforts to defend the nation and respects the bravery of the armed forces, the responsibility for foreign engagements and diplomacy must rest solely with the Centre.
“We believe that the nation is above all... Foreign policy is entirely within the domain of the Union government. Therefore, let only the Union government decide our foreign policy and take complete responsibility for it,” a TMC leader told PTI.
Yusuf Pathan was originally listed as part of a delegation headed by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, which will be visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The delegation includes leaders across party lines such as Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, and Hemang Joshi (BJP); John Brittas (CPI-M); Salman Khurshid (Congress); and Mohan Kumar, a former journalist.
In total, seven delegations comprising 51 political leaders are being sent to various global capitals to convey India's resolve to combat terrorism following Operation Sindoor.
This is not the first time TMC has opted out. Earlier, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, another senior TMC MP, declined a similar invitation citing health reasons.
TMC’s position underscores its support for national security initiatives while simultaneously reinforcing its principled distance from sharing responsibility on foreign policy matters with the Centre.
