As part of their ongoing diplomatic outreach, an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor visited the Indian Cultural Centre in Panama City, where members offered devotions at the temple, symbolising India’s unity across religious and political lines.
Highlighting the moment of interfaith solidarity, Tharoor shared that Muslim MP Sarfaraz Ahmed joined his Hindu and Sikh colleagues at the temple, later reflecting on the experience with the words: “Jab bulane walon ko koi aitraaz nahin, toh jaane walon ko aitraaz kyon hoga?” (“If the ones inviting have no objection, why should those going have any?”)
Tharoor posted on X, praising the moment as a moving testament to India’s shared cultural fabric: “The multi-party MPs’ delegation visited the Indian Cultural Centre in Panama City and offered devotions at the beautiful temple there… It was moving to see our Muslim colleague Sarfraz Ahmed join his Hindu and Sikh colleagues at the temple.”
Earlier in Panama, Tharoor addressed the Indian diaspora, delivering a strong message against terrorism and condemning Pakistan for sponsoring cross-border attacks, particularly in the wake of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
“Our desire to be left alone is not reciprocated by our neighbours across the border,” Tharoor said. “We will defend every inch of our sovereign territory, even if it means bearing repeated costs.”
The delegation includes parliamentarians from across the political spectrum:
Shambhavi Chaudhary (Lok Janshakti Party), Sarfaraz Ahmed (JMM), G M Harish Balayogi (TDP), Shashank Mani Tripathi, Tejaswi Surya, Bhubaneswar Kalita (all BJP), Mallikarjun Devda (Shiv Sena), Milind Deora (Shiv Sena), and Taranjit Singh Sandhu, former Indian Ambassador to the US.
The delegation’s mission spans engagements in the United States, Guyana, Panama, Brazil, and Colombia, aiming to brief international partners on India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and counter global misinformation about its security stance.
The interfaith visit to the temple in Panama stood as a powerful symbolic gesture, reinforcing the delegation’s broader message: India’s strength lies in its unity, resilience, and commitment to peace in the face of terror.
