New Delhi [India], May 22 : Congress MP Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy on Thursday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for not involving opposition parties in key decisions regarding the multi-party delegation.
Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy said that Prime Minister Modi should have met with the leaders of opposition parties or other political parties to discuss the steps regarding the delegation.
"He should have discussed the names with the parties and finalised them. This would have shown that all the political parties are together on this stand," said Reddy.
"We are with the government from day one after the Pahalgam attack. We want to be united to fight against terrorism. However, the political parties have their own ways of functioning," he said while speaking to ANI.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have sat with the leaders of opposition parties or other political party leaders and discussed with them about the further action regarding this delegation," he said.
Adding further, he said, "Political parties gave the names they were asked for. They gave their consensus to the government in a positive manner, so the government should have also responded positively. Why should they disrespect them? They should have discussed with the parties and finalised the names. This would have given the feeling to the people of the country that all the political parties are together on this stand."
Earlier, the Congress party had accused the Central government of not including all the names recommended by the Opposition for the all-party parliamentary delegation.
Congress General Secretary in charge of Communications, Jairam Ramesh, had accused the central government of playing "cheap politics" and indulging in "politicisation."
Jairam Ramesh alleged that despite formally submitting four names on request, the government ignored most of them, undermining parliamentary conventions and trust between the Opposition and the ruling party.
Earlier today, a high-level all-party delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde arrived in Abu Dhabi and held meetings with the UAE leadership on the significance of Operation Sindoor and reaffirmed India's firm stance against cross-border terrorism.
UAE is the first stop of the broader four-nation diplomatic outreach by the all-party delegation.
"The delegations held meetings with UAE leadership and media to brief on the significance of Operation Sindoor and reaffirm India's firm stance against cross-border terrorism," the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, said in a press release.
The delegation highlighted the perpetration of cross-border terrorism and efforts to cause social disharmony in India by Pakistan.
The day concluded with an interaction with the Indian community based in the UAE, recognising their vital contributions and reaffirming India's commitment to its diaspora. The delegation addressed and commended the diaspora for upholding the values of tolerance, pluralism, and unity, and for resisting divisive efforts aimed at destabilising India's social fabric.
On Friday, the delegation is scheduled to participate in closed-door strategic dialogues with leading think tanks and thought leaders based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
India had launched Operation Sindoor and carried out precision strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. India also responded effectively to subsequent Pakistan aggression.