Kumar Bahukhandi
Salman Khurshid – Photo: ANI
Congress leader Salman Khurshid, while interacting with a delegation in Indonesia, said that the removal of Article 370 has completely eliminated the baseless notion that Jammu and Kashmir is a separate entity. It was, is and will always be an integral part of India.
Congress leader Salman Khurshid, while interacting with a delegation in Indonesia, said that Article 370 of the Constitution had long created a perception of Jammu and Kashmir as separate from the rest of India. This perception has ended with the repeal of the article by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. Article 370 gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Describing the feeling of separate identity as a big problem, Salman Khurshid talked about the positive results since the repeal of Article 370. He also mentioned the participation of 65 percent voters in the assembly elections held in the Union Territory. Pointing to the prosperity that has emerged in the region, he strongly raised his voice against any attempt to reverse these developments.
He said, ‘There was a big problem in Kashmir for a long time. Much of this was reflected in the government’s thinking in Article 370 of the Constitution, which somehow created the impression that it was separate from the rest of the country, but Article 370 was repealed and this impression was eventually put to an end.
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‘Positive changes have come and prosperity has increased’
According to the senior Congress leader, the BJP-led central government’s decision to revoke the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 has brought positive changes and prosperity to the region. Addressing members of Indonesian think tanks and academics, he said, ‘After this, elections were held and 65 percent of the people participated in the elections. Today there is an elected government in Kashmir. Whatever happened in Pahalgam or whatever terrorist incidents are happening here, an attempt is being made to restore the situation as before. There is an attempt to lose the prosperity that has come to Kashmir.
Part of an all-party delegation led by Sanjay Kumar Jha
Former foreign minister Khurshid is part of an all-party delegation led by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha. The delegation is visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and Singapore to inform the countries about India’s position on Operation Sindoor.
Political uproar may arise
Congress is an ally in the Jammu and Kashmir government led by Omar Abdullah. Omar had introduced a resolution in the assembly to restore Article 370 soon after assuming power in September last year. The BJP strongly opposed the move, saying Article 370 would not be restored even if Indira Gandhi returns from heaven. The Congress party had initially opposed the Modi government’s decision. They later admitted that the debate on the abrogation of Article 370 has been legally settled after the Supreme Court’s decision. The court had upheld the decision of the central government.
