Bhubaneswar Kalita, Pradan Baruah, and Phangnon Konyak's names enlisted in Centre's 51-member delegation; Gaurav Gogoi's name outcasted
Bhubaneswar Kalita, Pradan Baruah, and Phangnon Konyak's names enlisted in Centre's 51-member delegation; Gaurav Gogoi's name outcasted
Digital Desk: Bhubaneswar Kalita and Pradan Baruah of Assam and Phangnon Konyak of Nagaland, both Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) politicians from the Northeast, were shortlisted as the Centre finalized a 51-member list for seven diplomatic delegations departing for international capitals. This initiative is India's attempt to put its anti-terror foot forward in the wake of Operation Sindoor.
The list includes a powerful mix of politicians, MPs, and former ministers from various parties. The list also saw the exclusion of, most notably, all four names proposed by Congress. Among them is Assam MP Gaurav Gogoi, whose name was eliminated.
It should be noted that following the removal, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has requested Rahul Gandhi to remove Gogoi from the list completely. "In the interest of national security and beyond partisan politics," Sarma had written, "I urge Leader of Opposition Sri Rahul Gandhi not to include this individual in such a sensitive and strategic assignment."
The public feud between Assam leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Himanta Biswa Sarma has intensified, with Sarma alleging that records reveal Gogoi's wife receiving a salary from an NGO in Pakistan while residing in India.
The Congress Party is facing internal issues, with four names presented for the party's presidential candidate not chosen. The Centre has chosen Shashi Tharoor, who regards the position as a national responsibility.
However, General Secretary Jairam Ramesh has accused the administration of dishonesty, eliciting silence from the party. This begs the question of where the party is going if no one listens, even when it speaks for itself.
