Is the MPs team led by Tharoor starting a "peace mission" with an anti-terrorism message?

New York, May 25 (NationPress) An inclusive team of parliamentarians is embarking on a "peace mission" across the Americas, as stated by its head, Shashi Tharoor, who emphasized that this initiative will convey "the message that we will not be silenced by terrorism".

The group, consisting of eight MPs and Taranjit Singh Sandhu, the former Indian Ambassador to the US, will kick off their mission in New York on Saturday evening by visiting the 9/11 memorial at the World Trade Centre to pay tribute to the victims of one of the most devastating terror attacks in US history.

They are also scheduled to engage with members of the diaspora and representatives from the media while in New York.

Following their time in the US, the team will travel to Guyana, Panama, Colombia, and Brazil, culminating in further meetings with leaders, lawmakers, and influential figures back in the US.

Before departing India, Tharoor remarked, "The reason we are going is to speak for the nation, to address the horrendous crisis we faced, where our country was brutally attacked by terrorists."

"We must articulate our stance with clarity and conviction, representing our nation and sending a clear message to the world that we will not be silenced by terrorism," he added.

In a show of national unity against terrorism, the delegation is led by Tharoor from the opposition Congress Party and includes Shambhavi from the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), Sarfaraz Ahmad from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, and Milind Murli Deora from the Shiv Sena.

The remaining members are Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, and Tejasvi Surya of the BJP, along with GM Harish Balayogi from the Telugu Desam Party, a partner in the National Democratic Alliance.

This mission follows tragic events where terrorists from The Resistance Front, linked to the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Toiba, killed 26 civilians in Pahalgam, prompting India to strike terrorist locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.

Pakistan retaliated by targeting civilian sites in India, including places of worship and medical facilities, escalating the conflict.

Commencing their tour at the World Trade Centre memorial reinforces Tharoor’s message: "We do not want the world to ignore us. We refuse to allow indifference to obscure the truth."

The September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, which had connections to Pakistan, resulted in the deaths of 2,731 individuals.

Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaeda leader responsible for the attack, was granted asylum and protection by the Pakistani government and was later killed in Abottabad by US Navy SEALs.

"This mission will serve as a reminder to the world that India upholds essential values like peace, democracy, and freedom, rejecting hatred and terror," Tharoor concluded.