West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has made it clear that her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), supports the Central Government’s stance on foreign policy and its fight against terrorism. However, she criticised the Centre for including a TMC MP in a multi-party diplomatic delegation without consulting her party first.
TMC Didn’t Boycott the Anti-Terror Delegation
Banerjee stressed that her party had not boycotted the Centre’s multi-party mission that aims to fight Pakistan-backed terrorism and promote Operation Sindoor. Instead, she objected to how the delegation list was formed.
“They (Centre) cannot decide the name. If they request the mother party, the party will decide the name. This is the customary; this is the system. We are with the Central Govt regarding external affairs policy and we are fully supporting them…” she said, referring to the inclusion of TMC MP Yusuf Pathan in the list without consultation.
Mamata Says Centre Skipped the Courtesy of Request
Banerjee also said the Centre didn’t reach out to her party before announcing the list. According to her, if they had made a formal request, TMC would have considered sending a representative.
“No request came to us. If a request came to us, then we could consider. We are in favour of the country. In the external affairs issue, we have always supported the policy of the Centre. At present, we are supporting the Central Govt’s views and actions. They cannot decide the member’s name on their own. It is not their choice, it is the choice of the party. If they requested me to send someone, we will decide the name and tell them. It is not that we are boycotting or that we are not going,” she explained.
Abhishek Banerjee Reiterates Support, Seeks Respect for Protocol
Earlier in the day, TMC General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee also addressed the matter. He assured that the party stands united with the Centre in the fight against terrorism but highlighted that the Union Government must respect party autonomy.
“I don’t know from where you got this information. I am saying this very clearly: whatever decision the Union Government takes, which aims at combating terrorism to protect the national interest of the country, TMC will stand with the Centre shoulder to shoulder,” he said.
He continued, “We do not have a problem with any delegation going… Which member of our party will go in the delegation is the decision of my party. The Centre or the Union Government cannot decide who will go from which party unilaterally… Which member of TMC, DMK, Congress, AAP and Samajwadi Party will go in the delegation should be decided by the party itself.”
About the Multi-Party Delegation
The Centre has formed a multi-party delegation consisting of seven groups. Each group includes 8–9 MPs and has one designated leader. The mission is aimed at countering international misinformation and highlighting India’s firm stand against terrorism.
