Salman Khurshid drops political bombshell from Jakarta
On May 30, senior Congress leader and former Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid caused a sort of political explosion by springing a big surprise, and that, too, at far-off Jakarta, Indonesia, which pleased and displeased many. That day, he took a line that was totally different from the one he had taken on August 12, 2019, on the abrogation of J&K’s special status. He praised the Narendra Modi government for abrogating the special status the erstwhile State of J&K enjoyed under Article 370 between January 26, 1950, and August 5, 2019. He didn’t just praise the Modi government. He also acknowledged in unequivocal terms that the abrogation of Article 370 resolved what he described as the “major problem” in J&K and brought “prosperity” to the region and that “Article 370 had only led to the promotion of fissiparous tendencies in Kashmir”[1].
“Kashmir had a major problem for a long time. Much of that was reflected in the thinking of the government in Article 370 of the Constitution, which somehow gave the impression that it was separate from the rest of the country. But Article 370 was abrogated, and it was finally put to an end…Subsequently, there was an election with 65 percent participation. There’s an elected government in Kashmir today, and therefore, people want to undo everything that has brought prosperity to Kashmir. It would not be advisable,” the Congress leader, among other things, also said while addressing Indonesian think tanks and academics[2].
It’s also important to note that on May 01, Salman Khurshid reacted to media reports, which, according to The Hindu (May 01), had “pitched” his statement as being at odds with his party. Reacting, he, among other things, wrote in his Facebook post that “…we understand public duties and national interest a lot better than armchair critics and TRP chasers.” Not just this, on May 02, he wrote on X, “When on mission against terrorism, to carry India’s message to the world, it’s distressing that people at home are calculating political allegiances. Is it so difficult to be patriotic?”
When on mission against terrorism, to carry India’s message to the world, it’s distressing that people at home are calculating political allegiances. Is it so difficult to be patriotic?
— Salman Khurshid (@salman7khurshid) June 2, 2025
Salman Khurshid is part of an Indian parliamentary delegation that is on a diplomatic outreach tour across Southeast Asia. This group is visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore to promote India’s diplomatic engagements in the wake of Operation Sindoor. The delegation includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, and Hemang Joshi; TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee; CPI(M)’s John Brittas; and former Indian Ambassador Mohan Kumar.
That the Congress leader on May 30 took a line which was totally different from what he had taken on August 12 could be seen from what he had told to CNN-New 18. While speaking to the channel, he had, like the Congress Working Committee (CWC), opposed the move and also, like it, accused the government of “bypassing democratic processes and undermining federal principles.”
“We are very clear. Article 370 has a historical place. The Article was never permanent. We know it was never permanent…The purpose of 370 was to keep Kashmir linked with India irretrievably, and that must remain…If there was a better way and it was no longer required, then we could have removed 370. But then doing it on a stroke of a pen, without consulting with the state government, and then doing so in a manner that is questionable. There are things that are not covering us with glory frankly,” he had, inter alia, said in his interview to CNN-News 18.
What Salman Khurshid said at Jakarta about the reading down of Article 370 and its implications and significance was exactly what the Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and the ruling BJP as a party had been saying again and again since August 5, 2019, when the BJP-led NDA government not only scrapped J&K’s special status, but also created two Union Territories out of the over 173-year-old J&K State – Union Territory of J&K and Union Territory of Ladakh.
No wonder then that the jubilant and very pleased BJP, which had been under the Congress’s severe attack ever since August 5, showered praises on Salman Khurshid. Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Amit Malviya, national convener of the IT cell of the BJP, and BJP national spokesperson, Shehzad Poonawala, all with a unified voice, hailed Salman Khurshid and commended his role and stand on Operation Sandoor and Article 370. Salman Khurshid, like other Congress members of similar parliamentary delegations, including Shashi Throor, Anand Sharma, and Manish Tewari, had been facing the Congress high command’s ire. The grouse of the party high command was, and continues to be, that they agreed to tour various countries to educate the international community about the Pakistan-sponsored “terrorism”, the April 22 Pahalgam massacre of 26 tourists, and the circumstances leading to the Operation Sindoor on May 7.
What did Naqvi, Malaviya, and Poonawala say while hailing Salman Khurshid?
Naqvi, among other things, said: “Anyone who understands the reality on the ground will not spread false propaganda like the Congress. It is true that after the abrogation of Article 370, the people of J&K have become partners in progress, prosperity, and the political process. You will recall that local body elections, which never happened before, have now been conducted. Elections for the assembly and parliament have also taken place. Along with this, the supremacy of separatists and terrorists collapsed.” Malviya, taking to X, said: “Mr Khurshid’s stance reflects bipartisan support for the Centre’s actions in J&K, underscoring a broader sense of national unity against cross-border terrorism and a strong reaffirmation of India’s territorial integrity. Will the Congress now turn on him for speaking an inconvenient truth, just as they did with Shashi Tharoor? Or is Tharoor being punished simply for daring to challenge the Gandhi camp’s chosen candidate for Congress President?” And, Poonawala, inter alia, said: “Hope Congress does not designate Salman Khurshid as ‘Super Pravakta’(spokesperson) after he has busted their narrative on 370…Will Rahul Gandhi admit Article 370 was his family blunder and even Salman Khurshid has now lauded its removal!… Salman Khurshid is a senior Congress leader and has been External Affairs Minister previously, and today he also accepts how ‘Pakistan-Parasti (pro-Pakistan stance), Pattharbazi (stone-pelting) and problem of Pakistan’ was increasing. Now that Article 370 has been removed, there is prosperity and people’s voice is audible…”
What the BJP said, and continues to say, about Salman Khurshid, in particular, is quite understandable. But what appears to be a big surprise/a riddle is the complete silence of the ardent believers in the concept of special status, coupled with Article 370, Article 35A, and residuary powers, in Kashmir. The otherwise very vocal ruling National Conference (NC) has not spoken a word on the Congress leader’s changed stance on Article 370. The All-Party Hurriyat Conference (APHC), the People’s Conference (PC), the Awami Ittehad Party (AIP), the J&K Apni Party (JKAP), the CPIM, and the Awami National Conference (ANC) also have, like the NC, not uttered a word either in support of or against what Salman Khurshid said about Article 370 and significance of its removal.
The attitude of the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) also has been no different from that of the NC, the APHC, the PC, the AIP, the JKAP, the CPIM, and the ANC. Leave aside Congress national spokesperson Udit Raj, who has said: “Salman Khurshid is a senior party leader and whatever he has said about Article 370 may be correct” (ABP News, May 30). Also, leave aside the Delhi-based Congress ideologue, Pankaj Sharma, who bats for the Congress 24/7 through his articles and during TV debates. He, on May 31, on X wrote: “Salman Khurshid @salman7khurshid ne Kashmir mein lagu ki dhara 370 hataney ke @narendramodi sarkar ke faisley ki Indonesia mein tareef ki hai. @INCIndia kahan-kahan kis kis ko rokey?” (Salman Khurshid has praised the Narendra Modi government in Indonesia for abrogating Article 370. How can Congress prevent its leaders from deviating from the party line?)
As for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former CM, Mehbooba Mufti, she did speak on May 31 during the party workers’ meeting held at Srinagar, but her targets were not Pakistan and Salman Khurshid. Her targets were CM Omar Abdullah and NC chief Farooq Abdullah. The upshot of her whole speech was that “J&K should be a bridge of friendship between India and Pakistan.” She criticized Omar Abdullah for his unstinted support to the Modi government’s decision to keep in abeyance the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan and she rejected outright and with contempt Farooq Abdullah’s call for “intensified military action against Pakistan,” saying “such statements reflect a dangerous mindset[3].
It’s difficult to avoid the conclusion that Salman Khurshid’s Jakarta statement has not displeased the NC, the APHC, the PDP, the JKPCC, the PC, the JKAP, the AIP, the CPIM and the ANC given their age-old stand on Article 370/ special status and their attitude towards the critics of this Article. And, they alone can solve the riddle: their complete silence.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
Reference:
[1] Congress’ Salman Khurshid hails Article 370 abrogation, says ‘Kashmir had a major problem’ – May 30, 2025, HT
[2] Now, Salman Khurshid backs end of Art 370: ‘Prosperity in Kashmir, Pak out to undo – May 31, 2025, The Indian Express
[3] Mehbooba Mufti slams Indus Waters Treaty suspension, questions Omar Abdullah’s support – May 31, 2025, The Telegraph
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The terror attack and the follow up action has given BJP an opportunity to identify and bring out the sensible lot from opposition. The likes of Tharror, Tiwari and Salman will not quit congress and join BJP but if and when the Gandhis lose control, they will more than likely ensure that Khadge, Jairam, Venugopal and co. do not take over and continue the senseless, abusive and third rate opposition devoid of intellect and national interest.The same applies to many other parties in opposition the sensible and owner dominated stupid split has been established.
The ranting in Kashmir will continue for as long as the current leadership of NC and PDP is alive, the genNext will just fade away for want of support. CALLING OUT THE PAKISTAN’S NUCLEAR BLUFF ONCE AND FOR ALL MAKES THE DIFFERENCE.
Why media is giving undue importance to what already happened in A 370. Is it keep the issue live for vote bank politics ?