Did India Receive 'Total Support and Solidarity' in Congressional Meetings?

Washington, June 5 (NationPress) India has garnered "total support and solidarity" from US lawmakers in its battle against terrorism, as reported by Congress MP Sashi Tharoor, who is leading the Indian parliamentary delegation.

Tharoor stated, "We didn't encounter a single sceptical or negative voice" during their interactions. "Instead, we received overwhelmingly positive responses", he noted at a press conference.

He emphasized that there was "total support and solidarity for India and its fight against terrorism", along with a "complete understanding of India's right to defend itself against terrorism".

The delegation's mission was to communicate a message of zero tolerance for terrorism and explain the rationale behind Operation Sindoor. They met with the India Caucus of Congress, members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, including chairs of the South Asia and East Asia subcommittees, and a group of six senators, five of whom are from the Foreign Relations Committee and one from the Intelligence Committee.

Tharoor's sentiments were mirrored by various Congress members who interacted with the delegation.

The co-chair of the India Caucus, Democrat Representative Ro Khanna, shared on X, "We discussed the significance of enhancing US-India counterterrorism collaboration and dismantling terrorist groups responsible for the April 22 attacks", which resulted in the deaths of 26 innocent individuals in Pahalgam.

The attack was claimed by The Resistance Front, linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Similar to the Indian delegation, members of Congress from both parties in the US expressed their support for India.

Senator Dave McCormick, a Republican, stated on X that during their meeting with Senate Foreign Relations Committee members, "we discussed the shared values between the US and India, combating terrorism and countering authoritarian regimes while fostering our economic relationship to create a free and democratic future for generations to come".

McCormick chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism.

Representative Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, welcomed Tharoor as the chair of India's Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs.

He mentioned on X, "My colleagues and I expressed our condolences for the terrorist incident in Pahalgam and reaffirmed Congress's dedication to the US-India partnership".

Tharoor concluded at his press conference, "Overall, we left the hill very satisfied with the quality of the conversations and the level of interest shown".

Prior to Washington, Team Tharoor had visited Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, where they were "shown all the empathy possible".

In both Congress and the countries they visited, Tharoor remarked, "It's not just about standing with us against terror; they are also positively considering economic development, cooperation, trade, and investment".

Shashank Mani Tripathi and other delegation members held separate discussions on economic collaboration.

Tharoor stated, "On the hill, there was a widespread bipartisan acceptance that as the largest, vibrant, and highly diverse democracies, both nations together have much to offer to the world".

"This economic agenda is the core focus", but it also ties into "a larger, long-term vision for democracy globally", he added.

Tharoor also conducted a press conference at the National Press Club and met with the Indian diaspora.

He urged diaspora members to advocate for India with their Congress representatives, stating, "They will listen to you. They are aware of you and hold you in high regard. You are all exceptional achievers, and your contributions can make a significant impact. We take pride in you".

Team members from various political backgrounds included Shambhavi Choudhary from the Lok Janshakti Party, Sarfaraz Ahmad from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Milind Murli Deora from the Shiv Sena, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya from the BJP, and GM Harish Balayogi from the Telugu Desam Party, a National Democratic Alliance partner.