The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has pulled back the name of its MP Yusuf Pathan from a multi-party delegation linked to Operation Sindoor, protesting the Centre's move to add him without consulting West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or the party leadership beforehand.
Though the party hasn't given a formal reason for the action, insider sources indicate that the move was triggered by issues of protocol and respect for party sovereignty. In this connection, according to a senior TMC leader, the BJP-led central government overstepped normal procedural protocols by going directly to Pathan to get his passport information without informing Banerjee or the party high command first.
"Trinamool Congress is a disciplined political party with a distinct identity. The unilateral addition of one of our MPs in a sensitive delegation without consultation is unacceptable. Neither the BJP nor the central government can decide who represents our party in any delegation," said the senior leader, on condition of anonymity.
TMC's formal stance was put forth by Rajya Sabha MP Derek O'Brien, who stressed that while the party welcomes all steps taken in the national interest, issues of international diplomacy must be left to the Centre alone.
The context to this row is the Indian military operation code-named Operation Sindoor, which was alleged to target terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The TMC has been carefully guarded in its public statements regarding the operation. Even Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself has avoided commenting on it during her interactions with the media.
When senior MP Saugata Roy recently made a casual comment about the operation, the party quickly distanced itself from his words. In an official statement, TMC stated: "Let us categorically state that the statement given by Prof Saugata Roy, MP, is not the view of the All India Trinamool Congress."
The leadership has since circulated internal directives cautioning party members against any statement, no matter how publicly issued—be it in the media, on social media, or in public gatherings—about what it deems a highly sensitive national issue.
