NEW DELHI: A five-member delegation from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will travel to the regions of Srinagar, Poonch, and Rajouri in Jammu and Kashmir from May 21 to May 23 to express solidarity with the residents affected by cross-border attacks allegedly perpetrated by Pakistan. The delegation includes TMC MP Derek O’Brien, MP Md. Nadimul Haque, West Bengal Minister Manas Ranjan Bhunia, MP Sagarika Ghose, and MP Mamata Bala Thakur, who will visit these sensitive areas during the three-day tour.
The TMC officially announced the visit on the social media platform X, stating that the purpose of the trip is to extend solidarity to the victims of cross-border aggression and offer condolences to the bereaved families. “Under the guidance of AITC Chairperson Mamata Banerjee, a five-member delegation will travel to Srinagar, Poonch, and Rajouri. The delegation, comprising Derek O’Brien, Md. Nadimul Haque, Manas Ranjan Bhunia, Sagarika Ghose, and Mamata Thakur, will be in these regions from May 21 to 23 to express support for those affected by the attacks and to stand by the grieving families who have lost their loved ones,” the party posted on X.
Simultaneously, another major development has taken place with the announcement that Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will be a part of the parliamentary delegation involved in Operation Sindoor. This decision was made following discussions between Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee, during which the minister reached out to her to discuss appropriate party representation. Subsequently, the TMC named Abhishek Banerjee as its official delegate for India’s international outreach regarding Operation Sindoor.
The TMC noted that Abhishek Banerjee’s inclusion would bring both “conviction and clarity” to the delegation’s mission. According to the party, his involvement will not only reflect West Bengal’s clear position on terrorism but also help amplify India’s united voice on counterterrorism before the international community. This development followed the earlier withdrawal of TMC MP Yusuf Pathan, who opted out of the delegation on Monday, citing the absence of prior consultation with party leadership regarding his nomination. Reports suggest that Union Minister Kiren Rijiju personally contacted Mamata Banerjee to address the matter and invited her recommendation for an alternative representative.
Significantly, the international parliamentary outreach on Operation Sindoor involves a total of 51 political leaders, including current members of Parliament, former ministers, and eight former ambassadors. These individuals will be divided into seven separate delegations, each tasked with visiting major world capitals to explain and assert India’s position on counterterrorism and the rationale behind Operation Sindoor.
All these developments are taking place in the wake of India’s launch of Operation Sindoor on May 7, which was described as a strong military response to the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, where 26 Indian citizens were killed. During Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces carried out strategic strikes on terrorist infrastructure located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. These operations resulted in the elimination of more than 100 terrorists affiliated with extremist organizations like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.