New Delhi: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with members of the high-profile Operation Sindoor all-party delegation on Tuesday evening, one name was notably absent from the gathering—AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi.
The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, brought together MPs and former parliamentarians from across the political spectrum. These leaders had recently returned from diplomatic missions abroad, where they represented India’s united stance against terrorism following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed 26 lives.
While the likes of Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Supriya Sule (NCP-SP), Kanimozhi (DMK), Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijayant Panda (BJP), and leaders from JD(U) and Shiv Sena were present, Owaisi’s absence sparked curiosity and political speculation.
Owaisi’s Clarification
Responding to the buzz, Owaisi clarified that he had to urgently travel to Dubai due to a medical emergency involving a close relative and childhood friend. Owaisi had been a part of one of the seven delegations sent to key world capitals as part of Operation Sindoor, India’s diplomatic outreach following the military response to the Pahalgam attack. The aim was to convey a message of zero tolerance towards terrorism and promote India’s commitment to peace.
PM Modi Commends Delegates’ Efforts
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi praised the efforts of all delegates who had represented India abroad, saying their engagements sent a strong, unified message against terrorism. “We are all proud of how they put forward India’s voice,” the Prime Minister posted on X after the meeting.
Operation Sindoor
The Indian government’s choice to include leaders from both ruling and opposition parties was seen as a rare but welcome display of national unity. Former Union Ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Salman Khurshid were also part of the initiative. Each delegation was tasked with meeting lawmakers, diplomats, and opinion-makers across regions to highlight India’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism and the country’s efforts post-Operation Sindoor, which targeted terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoK.
