Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday, May 18, lashed out at the Modi government’s diplomatic strategy of sending seven all-party delegations abroad in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. Terming it a “baraat,” or wedding procession, Raut questioned the utility and intent of dispatching MPs to world capitals to brief them on India’s military response to Pakistan.
“There was no need to send this baraat. The Prime Minister is weak,” Raut said, taking aim at what he called unnecessary political showmanship. He singled out the inclusion of Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, asking what such members would contribute to India’s strategic communication efforts.
Raut further accused the BJP of politicising foreign outreach. “They have a habit of doing politics in everything. The INDIA bloc should boycott this baraat,” he said. His remarks come even as his own party colleague, Priyanka Chaturvedi, is part of one of the official delegations.
51 MPs, Cross-Party Roster, Spark Internal Criticism
A total of 51 politicians, including MPs from various parties and former Union Ministers, will represent India in cities across Europe, the US, and the Gulf. The outreach, aimed at building diplomatic pressure on Pakistan, includes notable names such as Congress’s Shashi Tharoor, NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, and DMK’s Kanimozhi.
However, Congress has raised objections, noting that only one of the four MPs it recommended; Anand Sharma was included, while Tharoor was selected directly by the government. “This reflects the Modi government’s complete insincerity,” said Congress’s Jairam Ramesh, calling the selection process politically motivated.
Despite criticism, the delegations are set to begin travel later this month as part of India’s multi-pronged response to the escalating tensions with Pakistan following the covert airstrikes under Operation Sindoor.
