Indonesia: Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said that the abrogation of Article 370 effectively ended the “major problem” of Kashmir’s perceived separateness from the rest of India.
Speaking in Indonesia on Thursday, May 29, during an interaction with think tanks and academic leaders, Khurshid acknowledged the long-standing impact of the constitutional provision and suggested that its removal has ushered in a more integrated and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.
“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 an impression that it was separate from the rest of the country. But Article 370 was abrogated and it was finally put to an end," Khurshid said.
Have a look at his statement here:
His comments were made during a multi-nation visit by an all-party delegation led by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, aimed at briefing regional partners in Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore about India’s Operation Sindoor and its security outlook.
Cites high voter turnout, elected government in Kashmir
Khurshid also argued that the decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in August 2019, under the BJP-led central government, has led to visible democratic and economic improvements.
“Subsequently, there was an election with 65 per cent participation… There’s an elected government in Kashmir today. Therefore for people to want to undo everything that has happened, the prosperity that has come to Kashmir…” he added, leaving the statement trailing as he questioned the logic behind reversing the developments.
Khurshid’s statement stands in contrast to the Congress party’s alliance with the Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir, which passed a resolution seeking the restoration of Article 370 after taking office in September last year. The BJP reacted sharply, stating that “even if Indira Gandhi were to return from heaven,” Article 370 would not be reinstated.
