Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, who is leading an all-party parliamentary delegation to Spain, described her interaction with the Indian diaspora as a “heartwarming experience.” She praised the deep-rooted connection the Indian community in Spain has with their homeland and highlighted their strong stance against terrorism.
“It was a very good interaction with the Indian community in Spain,” Kanimozhi said after the event. “We have a large number of Indians here—not just first-generation immigrants, but also those born and brought up in Spain. Yet, they came together to meet us. It was heartening to see their strong sense of belonging to India and their desire to contribute to the global fight against terrorism. That’s a very positive message we’re taking back with us.”
The Indian Embassy in Spain echoed the sentiment, posting on X: “The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation had an insightful interaction with the Indian diaspora, reaffirming India’s unwavering commitment to peace in the face of terrorism. They emphasised that India will lead the global fight against terrorism, upholding the values of peace and resilience.”
The delegation’s visit to Spain is part of a broader diplomatic mission under the Modi government’s “Operation Sindoor,” launched on May 7 following the deadly April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. The operation marked a decisive military response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, resulting in over 100 terrorist casualties.
During their stay, the delegation met with Arturo Fernandez Alvarez, a Spanish businessman and survivor of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He shared his experiences and joined the delegation in condemning terrorism. Kanimozhi said the group will also meet Spain’s Foreign Minister, lawmakers, and policy think tanks to further India’s diplomatic engagement and communicate its position on cross-border terrorism.
SP MP Rajeev Rai, another member of the delegation, made strong remarks about Pakistan’s role in global terrorism. “Terrorism is in the DNA of Pakistan,” he said, calling its government a “puppet” controlled by its military. He urged that Pakistan be isolated internationally and warned that India must respond more assertively to any future attacks.
“Wherever we have gone, countries have expressed solidarity with India in this fight,” Rai stated. “If Pakistan dares again, there should be no easy ceasefire. Only a strong reply can make them understand.”
The delegation includes representatives from various parties: Rajeev Rai (Samajwadi Party), Brijesh Chowta (BJP), Prem Chand Gupta (Rashtriya Janata Dal), Ashok Kumar Mittal (Aam Aadmi Party), and former ambassadors Manjeev S Puri and Jawed Ashraf.
Earlier, the delegation paid floral tribute to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Madrid, symbolising India’s message of peace. The Spain visit marks the final leg of the group’s multi-nation outreach aimed at building international consensus against terrorism and spotlighting Pakistan’s complicity.
India’s diplomatic push, through these multi-party delegations, seeks to highlight its zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and rally global support for decisive action against terror networks and their sponsors.
