'It's a diversion': Congress calls Operation Sindoor delegations 'PR exercise'

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday strongly criticised the central government’s decision to send multi-party delegations to international capitals as part of Operation Sindoor , labelling it a diversion rather than a genuine diplomatic effort.

Ramesh claimed the initiative, which aims to brief the global community on India's fight against terrorism, is being used to distract attention from serious domestic concerns, particularly the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. "I feel this is another attempt to divert attention. This is a public relations exercise," Ramesh told ANI.

Ramesh also questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not convened a special session of parliament to address the issue. “We’ve been asking for an all-party meeting since April 22. Two meetings were held, but the Prime Minister didn’t attend. Later, both Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge wrote to him demanding a special session to discuss the political fallout of the Pahalgam attack ,” Ramesh said.

#WATCH | On seven MPs' delegations going to different world capitals over Operation Sindoor outreach, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh says, "I feel this is another attempt to divert attention. This is a public relations exercise. We are raising real issues about terrorism and… pic.twitter.com/GrZr6hTk09

— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2025

He also raised concerns about Pakistan’s continued support of cross-border terrorism and its strategic ties with China. According to him, these are critical security matters that need to be debated in parliament, not bypassed through external delegations.

Ramesh also said the announcement of a caste census and foreign briefings are attempts to sideline key national issues.

"We have also not discussed the China issue. In the middle of this, to divert attention, they (Central government) announced a caste census," Ramesh said.

The Rajya Sabha MP also criticised the handling of the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, contrasting it with the swift and effective action taken by Indian authorities following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008, reported PTI.

Hitting out at the government, Ramesh asked why the terrorists behind the April 22 Pahalgam attack had not been arrested even a month after the incident. "Look at the current situation, we are preparing a dossier and sending diplomatic delegations abroad, but the terrorists are at large. They must be arrested and interrogated, that is the real issue," he said.

Ramesh reminded the ruling party of its own leaders' historical outreach to Pakistan. “Who gave a clean chit to Mohammad Ali Jinnah? It was Jaswant Singh and L. K. Advani who called him a great leader. Atal Bihari Vajpayee took the Lahore bus yatra, and let us not forget, it was Narendra Modi himself who travelled to Lahore to break bread with Nawaz Sharif," Ramesh told PTI.

He also noted that former Prime Minister Morarji Desai had received Pakistan’s highest civilian honour, the Nishan-e-Pakistan, while his cabinet included Atal Bihari Vajpayee as External Affairs Minister.

Ramesh also lashed out at the BJP for its criticism of Rahul Gandhi and said it should instead channel its energies to target Pakistan and China.