Article 370 abrogation brought prosperity to J-K: Congress leader Salman Khurshid
Khurshid said Kashmir's long-standing separatist sentiment was rooted in Article 370, which gave the impression the region was separate from the rest of India
Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has endorsed the abrogation of Article 370, claiming it ended the long-standing problem of separatism in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in "prosperity" in the region.
Speaking in Indonesia during a diplomatic visit as part of an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, Khurshid told members of think tanks and academia that the Kashmir's long-standing separatist sentiment was rooted in Article 370, which gave Jammu and Kashmir special constitutional status.
“Article 370 somehow gave the impression that the region was separate from the rest of the country,” said Khurshid, addressing an audience as part of an all-party Indian parliamentary delegation. “But it was abrogated and finally put to an end.”
Also Read: Article 370 encouraged separatism, Modi govt ended terrorism in J-K: Amit Shah
Signs of progress
The former Union Law Minister also noted that post-abrogation of Article 370, the environment in Jammu and Kashmir has yielded progress, citing a 65 per cent voter turnout in recent elections and the formation of an elected government in the Union Territory.
"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," he asserted.
Khurshid is part of a delegation led by Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, which is touring Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore.
The all-party delegation is tasked with articulating India’s foreign policy stance, particularly in the wake of Operation Sindoor — India’s military response to the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
Also Read: Khurshid equates Hindutva with jihadist Islam in book; ‘exaggeration’, says Azad
Shift in stand
Khurshid’s remarks mark a noticeable shift from his earlier stance on Article 370 which he had described as not a barrier but a bond that linked India to Jammu and Kashmir.
"The Article paved the way for J&K to remain within India. The state was not just the land or its people. It was an idea, within the idea of India," Khurshid said in 2019.
Article 370 of the Constitution, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre in August 2019.
Also Read: Abrogation of Article 370: Historical blunder with colossal consequences
Congress' evolving stance
The Congress party's position on Article 370 has also evolved over the past six years. At the time of the abrogation in August 2019, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) strongly opposed the move, calling it undemocratic and a blow to federal principles.
Initially, the Congress had aligned with regional parties in Jammu and Kashmir to resist the move and participated in talks around the formation of the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an umbrella coalition aimed at restoring Articles 370 and 35A.
However, by November 2020, the Congress distanced itself from the alliance, following political attacks from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who dubbed it the "Gupkar Gang" and accused it of siding with forces that allegedly sought international intervention in Kashmir.
Following the Supreme Court's judgment in December 2023, upholding the Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370, the Congress adopted a more pragmatic tone, stating the matter was legally closed.