Abhishek in, Pathan out of team

Centre should not unilaterally decide nominees

- PREETHA NAIR @New Delhi

A day after Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Yusuf Pathan, named by the Centre in one of the global outreach delegations, opted out of the team, the party said Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee will represent it in the delegation that will travel to key countries to present India's position on terrorism.

The decision came after Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called Trinamool chief and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, a source said. "Mamata Banerjee nominates Abhishek Banerjee to represent us in the all-party delegation for India's global stand against terrorism. His voice will echo India's commitment to peace, justice and global cooperation," Trinamool said in a post on X.

The source claimed Rijiju called Mamata to "pacify" her and seek her suggestions for a representative to the multi-party delegations from her party. The government seems to have made peace with the TMC despite Rijiju's assertion on Monday that it had not sought names from parties for the multi-party delegations.