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Indian delegation in South Africa reaffirms commitment to harmon
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Indian multi-party team visits South Africa to honour Gandhi-Mandela legacy, highlight terror attack and call for global unity
An Indian all-party delegation, led by NCP-SCP leader Supriya Sule, held a joint press conference in Johannesburg as part of an ongoing diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, reported ndtv.com.
Delegation condemns terrorism, pays tribute to Gandhi and Mandela. Speaking in South Africa, Supriya Sule evoked the shared values of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela, describing India as a global peace leader. “India has always globally led for peace and shares a deep bond with South Africa — the land of Gandhi and Mandela, who both stood for non-violence,” Sule said.
She also addressed the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where 26 people, including a Nepali national, were killed. “We are here to tell South Africans what really happened in India. It was an attack on India’s soul,” she said.
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Delegation stresses democracy, national unity against terrorism
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Sule underlined India’s democratic fabric, stating that “India is a vibrant democracy that respects the will of the people and supports all democratically elected governments globally.”
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“India is sensitive to global conflicts and is always willing to help where possible.”
Congress MP Manish Tewari emphasised the bipartisan composition of the delegation, saying, “This is a unified stand against terrorism. Different political parties are here, both from the Government and the Opposition, showing national consensus.”
Tewari also reiterated India’s strong stance on cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, stating, “If Pakistan continues to use terrorism as a tool of state policy, India reserves the right to respond with the full spectrum of options to defend its national interests.”
The delegation included Supriya Sule, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Vikramjeet Singh Sahney, Manish Tewari, Anurag Singh Thakur, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, Anand Sharma, V Muraleedharan, and Syed Akbaruddin.
They also visited Johannesburg’s Constitution Hill, where Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned, viewed the Mandela-Gandhi Exhibition inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, and paid tribute at Gandhi’s statue.
On May 7, India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack, targeting nine terror bases and eliminating operatives from groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.