Meeting diaspora, watching garba, speaking to ANI: What anti-terror MP delegations are doing abroad

Seven delegations comprising retired Indian diplomats and MPs from all major political parties are travelling around the world to deliver India’s message of zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

According to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the reason for picking members from parties across the political spectrum was to “project India’s national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism” on the world stage. But many MPs appear to be treating this as an opportunity to project themselves to their voters back home too.

The public engagements of prominent politicians participating in this exercise show that the challenge of Pakistan-backed terrorism is not the only one taking up all their time. The netas are paying special attention to the Indian diaspora, attending cultural functions and speaking to the Indian media.

Domestic politics first

For example, Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, visited the memorial of Bengali freedom fighter Rash Behari Bose in Tokyo on May 23. There, he complained about the rundown condition of the structure dedicated to this “great son of Bengal” and asked the Indian ambassador in Japan to take it up with the local authorities.

Banerjee also offered prayers at the Ramakrishna Mission in Singapore. This sect of Hinduism, which originated in nineteenth-century Kolkata...

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