New Delhi [India], May 18 (ANI): Criticising Congress for its statement on the all-party delegations, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Shehzad Poonawalla on Sunday said that all parties must rise above party politics and prioritise national interests.

Speaking to ANI, Poonawalla also hit back at the Congress as the opposition party criticised the government for it's choice of leaders in the all party delegations which would carry forth the country's strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism to the world.

BJP spokesperson also questioned Congress over its remarks on the Shashi Tharoor's inclusion in the all party delegation.

'If Congress has become so against Shashi Tharoor, why did they make him MP so many times? Why did they make him MoS External Affairs?' he asked.

'When Pakistan is being exposed for its terror connection and nexus, we need to rise above the party politics and we should do politics of national interest...instead of welcoming this move, Congress is again doing petty and petulant politics,' he added.

Poonawalla also said that the names given by Congress are being probed for their alleged links to Pakistan.

'The names given by Congress, one or two, are those who are being investigated by SIT for their alleged link to Pakistan...What is their and their family's connection with Pakistan? Slogans of 'Pakistan Zindabad' were raised during their election. However, even on such occasions, Congress wants to place party interests and family interests above national interests. This is an unfortunate matter,' Poonawalla said.

He further criticised Congress for trying to advance its political agenda at such a testing time.

'At a time when everyone should speak in one voice, the Congress party is looking for such moments to shine its political agenda, it is searching for such opportunities,' Poonawalla added.

A seven-member all-party delegation is set to visit key partner countries, including members of the UN Security Council, later this month in the context of Operation Sindoor and India's continued fight against cross-border terrorism.

The following Members of Parliament will lead the seven delegations: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad, JDU leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, BJP leader Baijayant Panda, DMK leader Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, NCP (SP) leader Supriya Sule, and Shiv Sena leader Shrikant Eknath Shinde.

Earlier today, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh expressed strong objection to the central government choosing only one party MP out its four nominations for the all party-delegations formed to mobilise global support on Operation Sindoor.

Speaking to ANI, Jairam Ramesh said that it is not 'appropriate' to do politics, after the Central government selected members that were not recommended by Congress, most notably Shashi Tharoor.

The All-Party Delegations will project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism in all forms and manifestations. They would carry forth the country's strong message of zero tolerance against terrorism to the world. Members of Parliament from different parties, prominent political personalities, and distinguished diplomats will be part of each delegation.

The tour is expected to last 10 days, commencing on May 23. The parliamentarians' groups are likely to visit several key world capitals, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, and Japan.

Following the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people, including a Nepali national, were killed, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, in which precision strikes destroyed terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoK) and eliminated nearly 100 terror operatives at key bases in Pakistan. (ANI)