"The Centre cannot decide the name": Mamata Banerjee on no TMC representation in Op-Sindoor outreach

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], May 19 (ANI): Extending support to the central government's actions and views on external affairs issues, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday clarified that her party has not boycotted the multi-party diplomatic mission aimed at countering Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, but will not accept any kind of unilateral decisions.

"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..." West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on TMC MP Yusuf Pathan's name in the list of all-party delegations visiting key partner countries to showcase India's continued fight against terrorism and Operation Sindoor."

Banerjee asserted that the party would have send their representative for the all-party delegation if the government had reached out to them.

"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 said.

Earlier in the day, asserting that the Trinamool Congress will stand with the Centre shoulder to shoulder in combating terrorism, TMC General Secretary and Diamond Harbour MP Abhishek Banerjee said that the Union Government cannot decide who will go from which party unilaterally.

"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," Banerjee said when asked if TMC has opted out of the Centre's multi-party diplomatic mission aimed at countering Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

"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," he added.

The multi-party delegation, consisting of seven groups led by one MP each, has been initiated to counter global misinformation and highlight India's zero-tolerance policy on terrorism.

The list includes Members of Parliament from multi-parties which have been divided into seven groups consisting of 8-9 members. A leader has been assigned for each group who will lead the delegation on a global level. (ANI)