All-Party Delegation Pays Tribute To Mahatma Gandhi In Tokyo As Part Of Global Anti-Terror Drive

An Indian all-party parliamentary delegation began its official visit to Japan by offering floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his statue in Edogawa, Tokyo, on Thursday.

The delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi and Brij Lal, TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M)’s John Barittas, and senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid.

The gesture marked the ceremonial beginning of India’s diplomatic mission under ‘Operation Sindoor’- a multi-nation campaign to rally international support against Pakistan’s continued sheltering and financing of terror groups.

Sharing a message on social media platform X, Sanjay Kumar Jha stated, “Commenced our visit by paying floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi Ji at Edogawa, Tokyo. This statue, unveiled by EAM S. Jaishankar in July 2024, stands as a symbol of peace and the enduring India–Japan friendship.”

He added that the tribute was a reaffirmation of India and Japan’s shared commitment to Gandhi’s universal ideals of non-violence and harmony.

India’s Zero-Tolerance Message

The visit comes in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians.

The delegation is expected to raise the issue of Pakistan’s complicity in harbouring terror outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in all their international engagements.

Upon arrival, the delegation was received by the Indian Ambassador to Japan, Sibi George, who also briefed them on the strategic goals of the visit, including engagements with Japanese lawmakers, civil society, and media.

BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi also posted, “Started off with a briefing by Indian Ambassador to Japan at the Indian Embassy. We then offered floral tributes at the Gandhi statue in Edogawa.”

Global Mission Under ‘Operation Sindoor’

Coordinated by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, ‘Operation Sindoor’ is a rare show of bipartisan unity, involving 59 MPs and political leaders across seven high-level delegations.

These teams will cover 33 countries from 21 May to 5 June, engaging with global institutions such as the United Nations and key stakeholders from governments, think tanks, and diaspora groups.

While Jha’s delegation focuses on East and Southeast Asia, MP Shrikant Shinde leads a team to the UAE and parts of Africa.

Simultaneously, DMK MP Kanimozhi heads another group to Europe.

The primary objective of the campaign is to present evidence of Pakistan’s long-standing support for terrorism and to build a unified international front against state-sponsored extremism.

‘Operation Sindoor’ represents one of India’s strongest and most coordinated foreign policy campaigns to date, underscoring the urgency of countering terror on a global scale.

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