BJP Welcomes Salman Khurshid’s Remarks on Article 370 Abrogation, Highlights Shifting Political Consensus
In a noteworthy political development, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday welcomed recent remarks made by senior Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, in which he acknowledged the positive impact of the abrogation of Article 370 in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Khurshid’s candid assessment has sparked fresh political discourse and drawn reactions from multiple quarters, particularly within the BJP, which views the abrogation as one of its most significant achievements in recent years.
Article 370, which granted special autonomous status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated in August 2019 by the Narendra Modi-led central government.
The decision was met with widespread political debate, with opposition parties like the Congress initially opposing the move. However, Salman Khurshid’s recent comments suggest a possible shift in perspectives, at least among some senior Congress leaders.
BJP Leaders Respond with Cautious Optimism
Reacting to Khurshid’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawala expressed appreciation for the former minister’s acknowledgment of the ground realities in Jammu and Kashmir.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Poonawala said that Khurshid had rightfully admitted that, before the abrogation of Article 370, there was a disturbing rise in “Pakistan-parasti” (pro-Pakistan sentiment), frequent stone-pelting incidents, and the deep-rooted influence of cross-border terrorism.
“Salman Khurshid is not just any Congress leader—he has served as the External Affairs Minister of India and holds significant political weight. His admission that Article 370 had become a source of multiple problems in the region, such as separatism and the glorification of Pakistan, is a powerful endorsement of the BJP’s stance,” Poonawala noted.
He further added that since the abrogation of Article 370, positive changes have become evident, including a rise in development initiatives, restoration of democratic processes, and greater integration of the Union Territory with the rest of India. “Today, there is prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, and the genuine voice of the people is finally being heard,” he remarked.
Historical Context: Acknowledging Past Mistakes
Poonawala also emphasized that Khurshid, in his statement, indirectly acknowledged that the existence of Article 370 was a historical misstep—one that dated back to India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
“This admission is significant because it validates what the BJP has long asserted—that Article 370 was a strategic blunder that prevented full integration of Jammu and Kashmir into the Indian Union for decades,” he added.
However, Poonawala also pointed out the irony that, even today, many leaders within the Congress party continue to support the article’s existence, despite growing evidence of the positive impact of its removal.
Amit Malviya Raises Questions About Congress Party’s Internal Dynamics
Echoing similar sentiments, Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP’s IT cell, took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the broader implications of Khurshid’s remarks. He described them as an indication of emerging bipartisan support for the central government’s decision on Article 370.
“Mr. Khurshid’s stance reflects a deeper and growing consensus across party lines. It underscores not just support for the government’s decision, but also a collective recognition of India’s need to stand firm against cross-border terrorism and maintain its territorial integrity,” Malviya stated.
He went a step further by questioning whether the Congress party would now turn against Khurshid for expressing a view that doesn’t align with the dominant narrative within the party. Drawing a parallel, Malviya wrote, “Will the Congress now turn on him for speaking an inconvenient truth, just as they did with Shashi Tharoor?”
Tharoor, another senior Congress leader, has previously faced backlash within his party for publicly expressing moderate or supportive views on certain government policies, including foreign policy matters and cultural issues.
Implications for the Political Landscape
Salman Khurshid’s remarks and the BJP’s positive reaction may signal a subtle yet important shift in the political narrative surrounding Jammu and Kashmir. While the Congress party has yet to officially respond to Khurshid’s statements, the development is likely to intensify debates within the party about its stand on national security and territorial unity.
At a time when national security remains a core electoral issue, any signs of consensus, however limited, on such a controversial matter may have far-reaching implications, not just for policy-making, but also for inter-party dynamics and public perception.
As the political temperature rises ahead of future elections, the discourse surrounding Article 370 and Jammu and Kashmir continues to evolve. Whether this moment marks the beginning of a broader consensus or simply an individual opinion that sparks controversy remains to be seen.
