Salman Khurshid’s message to ‘people at home’ after Article 370 remark: ‘Is it so difficult to be patriotic?’ | India News

NEW DELHI: Congress leaderSalman Khurshid on Monday sent a strong message to “people at home” over political allegiances, even as his recent remarks on Article 370 appeared to deepen discomfort within his party.Khurshid expressed concern over political divisions in India, even as a multi-party delegation travels abroad to highlight the country’s united stand against terrorism. Khurshid, a senior politician and former foreign minister, is currently in East Asia as part of an all-party parliamentary group led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha. Posting on X, Khurshid wrote, “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?”The post came says after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cornered Congress over Khurshid’s remark backing abrogation of Article 370. While addressing think tanks and academia in Indonesia on last week, Khurshid said it was unfortunate that Pakistan wants to undo the prosperity that has come to Jammu & Kashmir following the abrogation. Khurshid is part of one of the seven- all party delegations currently touring various countries. The Congress had initially opposed the move to scrap Article 370. The party later nuanced its position and has since been ambivalent on the issue of restoration of the Article which granted J&K special status. “Kashmir had a major problem for a long time. Much of that was reflected in the thinking of the government in an article called 370 of the Constitution, which somehow gave the impression that it was separate from the rest of the country. But Article 370 was abrogated, it was finally put to an end, because so much time had passed,” Khurshid had said.The BJP jumped on the opportunity and questioned whether the Congress would now target senior leader Salman Khurshid for what it called “speaking an inconvenient truth” like party leader Shashi Tharoor who faced backlash from within the grand-old party for supporting the Centre over Operation Sindoor stance. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya, in a post on X, pointed to Khurshid’s remarks during the ongoing multi-party MPs delegation tour, saying they signaled cross-party support for the government’s actions in Jammu & Kashmir and a firm stand on India’s sovereignty. “Mr Khurshid’s stance reflects bipartisan support for the Centre’s actions in Jammu & Kashmir, underscoring a broader sense of national unity against cross-border terrorism and a strong reaffirmation of India’s territorial integrity,” Malviya said. “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?” he asked.Meanwhile, Khurshid in an indirect message on Saturday said, ” The ruling party could have come alone to bring this message, but they came with us to give India’s message… However, sadly, this is not what we hear from India. Somebody is saying that he is supporting the BJP or the Congress, but I am proud that we are here together because we are not supporting , we are supporting one simple idea called India.” Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who is part of another delegation currently in Brazil, had made similar remarks. He urged critics to hold off until the delegations complete their mission. “Undoubtedly, in a democracy, criticism is natural. But for now, we should focus on the mission,” he said.Meanwhile, Congress has raised questions on the ceasefire with Paistan after Operation Sindoor. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge and spokesperson Pawan Khera have demanded a Parliament session to get clarity on the terms of the ceasefire with Pakistan. They have accused the government of misleading the nation after retaliatory strikes in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam.