India-Pak conflict LIVE: Op Sindoor delegations will defend Centre's 'sins and crime', says Raut

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday (May 18) said INDIA alliance parties should have boycotted the Union government's move to send all-party delegations to different countries to put across India's resolve to tackle terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.

Talking to reporters in Mumbai, Raut claimed the delegation will defend the "sins and crime" committed by the government.

"There was no need to send a delegation like this which is funded by the government. What will they do? We have our ambassadors abroad. They are doing their job. INDIA bloc (parties) should have boycotted it. They are getting into the trap laid by the government. You are going to defend the sins and crime committed by the government and not the country," he said.

His remarks also indicate the parties in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) were not on the same page on the issue.

Raut also lashed out at the government for nominating Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde to lead the delegation and said his party too should have got the chance to lead one of the delegations due to its numerical strength in Lok Sabha.

Ashoka University professor arrested

Meanwhile, an associate professor at Ashoka University, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, has been arrested for his social media post on Operation Sindoor. Haryana police have said the action was taken on a complaint by a BJP Yuva Morcha leader.

The arrest comes days after the Haryana State Commission for Women sent a notice to the associate professor over his remarks, in one of which he said right-wing people applauding Col Sofiya Qureshi should demand protection for victims of mob lynchings and “arbitrary” bulldozing of properties.

Meaning ‘inverted’

The associate professor described the media briefings by Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh as “optics”. “But optics must translate to reality on the ground; otherwise it’s just hypocrisy,” he had said.

The Commission said an initial review of Mahmudabad’s remarks raised concerns about the “disparagement of women in uniform”. The associate professor said the Commission, “while overreaching its jurisdiction”, had “inverted” the meaning of his comment.

Cessation of hostilities to continue

Meanwhile, the cessation of hostilities agreed upon by India and Pakistan on May 12 will continue, an army official said on Sunday.

Dispelling notions that the pause was temporary and it will end today, he said, "As far as the continuation of break in hostilities as decided during the interaction of the DGMOs (Director General of Military Operations) is concerned, there is no expiry date to it."

The official also said no talks were scheduled between the DGMOs of India and Pakistan on Sunday.

Centre readies 51 envoys

The Centre on Saturday announced the name of 51 political leaders, including parliamentarians and former ministers, cutting across party lines, who will be part of the seven delegations travelling to world capitals to put across India's resolve to tackle terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.

The delegations led by Baijayant Panda, Ravi Shankar Prasad (both BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Kanimozhi (DMK) and Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) will visit a total of 32 countries and the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

Each delegation comprises seven or eight political leaders and is assisted by former diplomats. Of the 51 political leaders, 31 are part of the ruling NDA, while the remaining 20 are from the non-NDA parties. All the seven delegations have at least one Muslim representation, either among politicians or diplomats.

Boycott against Turkey

Meanwhile, the boycott against travel to Turkey and Turkish products gained momentum as several traders’ organisations decided to snap trade ties with Turkey for its support for Pakistan in the latter’s conflict with India.

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