Image Credit: X account @iamyusufpathan
TMC’s Yusuf Pathan Opts Out of Operation Sindoor Delegation
In a politically charged move, Trinamool Congress MP and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan has declined to join the Indian government’s all-party delegation under the ‘Operation Sindoor’ outreach initiative. The operation, which was launched to consolidate international opinion against cross-border terrorism after the Pahalgam attack and India’s retaliatory strikes, has seen participation from a wide spectrum of political parties—barring a few.
TMC: Foreign Policy is the Centre’s Sole Domain
Trinamool Congress made its stance clear, stating that foreign policy lies solely within the jurisdiction of the Union Government. Senior party functionaries said that Yusuf Pathan’s name was included without consulting the party.
A TMC leader remarked, “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.”
The party’s decision not to send a representative aligns with its longstanding policy of distancing itself from the Centre’s diplomatic maneuvers, especially when unilateral decisions are taken.
Delegation Details and Purpose
Yusuf Pathan was part of the delegation led by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, scheduled to visit Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. The group included parliamentarians from across the political spectrum: BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Hemang Joshi, Brij Lal, Congress leader Salman Khurshid, CPI(M)’s Dr. John Brittas, and AGP’s Pradhan Baruah.
The primary objective of the delegations under Operation Sindoor is to engage with foreign governments and parliaments, making India’s case against terrorism and reinforcing the legitimacy of its recent counter-terror measures. Each delegation has been assigned a strategic region, aiming to counter any hostile narrative being floated by Pakistan on global platforms.
Pattern of TMC Non-Participation
This isn’t the first time a TMC leader has distanced themselves from the Sindoor delegations. Earlier, TMC senior leader and MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay also opted out of his assigned trip citing health issues. Sources within the party, however, confirmed that this was part of a broader political signal—TMC does not want to be a “rubber stamp” in what it views as an exclusively central government-driven foreign policy operation.
With Yusuf Pathan’s withdrawal, the Centre’s attempt at presenting a unified national front on terrorism takes a symbolic hit, exposing the fractured consensus on India’s diplomatic approach to cross-border conflict.
