New Delhi: Days after he purportedly endorsed the abrogation of Article 370 in J&K during his visit to Indonesia as part of a multi-party delegation on Operation Sindoor—in remarks that seemed to have not gone down well with his party—Congress leader Salman Khurshid has said his statement “had nothing to do with the merits” of the move.
“If someone asks me about 370, I have to say it’s gone. That’s just a factual statement,” he told ThePrint in an interview after returning from his visit. “People say things like—you acknowledged the elections happened in J&K, so does that mean everything is fine? No. I didn’t say that. I just said elections happened. That has nothing to do with the merits of abrogating Article 370.”
“It’s like being asked if you had breakfast, and you say yes. It doesn’t mean you’re praising the food,” he added.
While in Indonesia, Khurshid, a former external affairs minister, had said: “Article 370 was abrogated, finally put to an end…Subsequently, there was an election and 65 percent participation. There is an elected government in Kashmir today, and therefore, for people to want to undo everything that has happened, the prosperity that has come to Kashmir, it is very unfortunate. It will give a setback to anybody.”
His remarks seemed at variance with the views of his party, whose stand on the abrogation of Article 370 has evolved over the years, but it has never hailed the move as one that benefited Jammu and Kashmir.
On Monday, Khurshid had written on X that it was “distressing” that while he was abroad on a “mission against terrorism”, people “at home” were “calculating political allegiances”.
Speaking to ThePrint, he said the Congress had never included any promise in its manifesto to reverse the abrogation, adding that the only pressing issue now is the restoration of statehood for J&K, a demand that finds wide agreement across parties.
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
“The Supreme Court was assured that statehood would return. It still hasn’t. That’s what needs to be emphasised,” he added.
On the National Conference’s (NC’s) position, Khurshid said: “Nobody asked me about them…they had it in their manifesto…but we didn’t have it in our manifesto…Everyone—the NC, the Congress, the people of J&K—wants statehood. That’s the real focus.”
Responding to allegations that his participation in the all-party delegations helped the ruling BJP, Khurshid said: “I didn’t go to help the BJP. I went because India needed a united voice. The BJP-led government invited us. My party agreed and sent me. I am proud of that.”
He added: “So I can only say that let the credit go to the Congress, not to me, that we collaborated and cooperated with the government when it came to India’s profile across the globe. Now if somebody has speculation and does speculation and says why now, why this, why that, then I can only answer by saying it’s very difficult to be a patriot.”
Asked about criticism directed at Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Khurshid said: “I don’t know why he’s being criticised. Only Shashi can answer that. We weren’t coordinating on a daily basis. He’s a friend and a talented person, but I can’t speak for him.”
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The delegation experience
Speaking about the objectives of the all-party delegations that fanned out across the globe to put forth India’s anti-terror stance after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, Khurshid said the mission was to share evidence of Pakistan’s involvement and seek international solidarity.
He said that while some think tanks and diaspora groups posed questions, most governments—particularly Japan, Korea, and Indonesia—appreciated India’s restraint and professionalism. “They were impressed by the fact that we responded effectively and then agreed to a ceasefire when requested. They affirmed our right to self-defence.”
Khurshid said the delegation expected diplomatic challenges in Indonesia and Malaysia due to their OIC membership. “But we were pleasantly surprised in Indonesia. Major Muslim organisations there spoke about the need for moderate Islam, they were very supportive.”
In Malaysia, the response was more complicated due to domestic politics, he added. “The Malay vote is split across four parties, each competing intensely. That made things different. But we still received strong support.”
Many countries, especially diaspora communities, he said, held misconceptions shaped by the Western press. “Some even called it a Western-created perception. We made it a point to convey this. Over the course of the trip, satellite imagery and facts shared by the Indian government helped shift that perception.”
Khurshid suggested that even commercial rivalries, such as between global aircraft manufacturers, may have influenced the narrative. “But yes, there was definitely concern around how the Western media presents India.”
“If seven delegations like ours can go around the world to clear doubts and present facts, why not do the same at home?” he asked. “A special session of Parliament could have clarified things for our own citizens. That’s what the Congress demanded. But the government hasn’t agreed.”
Asked whether his religious identity posed a challenge abroad, he said: “No more than when a Muslim fights for India on the border…Yes, there is a shared religion with the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack, but that’s where it ends. I tweeted that as a patriot it’s difficult to do this, right?”
Reacting to Pakistan’s statement slamming India’s diplomatic outreach and asking countries in Southeast Asia and ASEAN to “remain vigilant”—released while the Indian delegation was in Kuala Lumpur—Khurshid said it was “peevish and puerile”, and one that “does not even merit a response”.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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