'Not One Kashmiri Pandit': Congress' Vivek Tankha Criticises Multi-Party Delegation List

New Delhi: As India gears up to send an all-party delegation to visit key partner countries to highlight cross-border terrorism in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Vivek Tankha on Sunday expressed strong reservations over the absence of representatives from Kashmiri Pandit community.

Alleging that the government added its favourite personalities to the list of seven multi-party delegations, which aims to highlight the Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, he said that Kashmiri Pandits seem like a "forgotten species".

"The concept of sending 7 All Party delegations to world capitals is laudable. But unfortunately it reads like a long List of Govt favourites barring some exceptions!! The issue is 'J&K' but not one Kashmiri Pandit in the any of the 7 delegations. Looks (like) a forgotten specie(s)," Tankha posted on X.

He further said that it was "disturbing" that Kashmiri Pandits were not named under the list presented by either the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) or in the four names given by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi.

"What is disturbing that KPs are neither part of PMO India list nor are part of the list of four forwarded by LOP!! In a Nationally represented delegation not one person fr(om) Madhya Pradesh. Must be an undeserving state," he added.

His reaction comes after Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju released a list of an all-party delegation (divided into seven groups) set to visit key partner countries in an effort to expose Pakistan's support for terrorism and highlight India's policy of zero-tolerance on terrorism on the global stage.

The list includes MPs from multiple parties, divided into seven groups of 8-9 members. A leader has been assigned for each group, who will lead the delegation at a global level.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, while posting the list on Saturday, also highlighted how the Members of Parliament have shown a united stance of "One mission. One message. One Bharat."

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