Op Sindoor: INDIA bloc constituents should have boycotted all-party delegation, says Sanjay Raut
Mumbai (PTI): Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said INDIA bloc constituents should have boycotted the Union government's move to send all-party delegations to different countries to put across India's resolve to tackle terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.
Talking to reporters, Raut claimed the delegation will defend the "sins and crime" committed by the government.
"There was no need to send a delegation like this which is funded by the government. What will they do? We have our ambassadors abroad. They are doing their job. INDI bloc (parties) should have boycotted it. They are getting into the trap laid by the government. You are going to defend the sins and crime committed by the government and not the country," he said.
His remarks also indicate the parties in the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) were not on the same page on the issue.
Raut also lashed out at the government for nominating Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde to lead the delegation and said his party too should have got the chance to lead one of the delegations due to its numerical strength in Lok Sabha.
"Did anyone ask Sena (UBT), TMC, RJD? On what basis are you saying that an all-party delegation is going," Raut questioned.
Fifty-one political leaders, parliamentarians and former ministers cutting across party lines will be part of the seven delegations travelling to world capitals to put across India's resolve to tackle terrorism against the backdrop of Operation Sindoor.
The seven delegations led by Baijayant Panda, Ravi Shankar Prasad (both BJP), Sanjay Kumar Jha (JDU), Shrikant Shinde (Shiv Sena), Shashi Tharoor (Congress), Kanimozhi (DMK) and Supriya Sule (NCP-SP) will visit a total of 32 countries and the EU headquarters at Brussels in Belgium.
Each of the delegation comprises seven or eight political leaders and is assisted by former diplomats. Of the 51 political leaders, 31 are part of the ruling NDA, while the remaining 20 are from the non-NDA parties.
"There was no need to send a delegation like this in a hurried fashion. The opposition has made a demand to hold a special session on Operation Sindoor and Pahalgam attack. The government is not ready to hold discussion on it," Raut said.
He asked what deal US President Donald Trump struck with India which made it agree to an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea.
Trump had claimed his administration stopped a "nuclear conflict" between India and Pakistan, telling the south Asian neighbours that America would do a "lot of trade" with them if they ended hostilities.
Indian government sources in New Delhi have maintained the directors general of military operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding.
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Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
