India, May 19 -- The Congress on Monday dismissed union minister Kiren Rijiju's claim that the centre did not ask for names for the all-party diplomatic delegations to put India's points in front of partner countries on Operation Sindoor, calling it an 'absolute lie'.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said it was "cheap politics" not to get the names the government selected cleared with the opposition party. He also took a shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of abusing the Congress on foreign soil and then taking the party's help to put points across to the same nations.

"Why didn't the prime minister pick up the phone and speak to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi? W...