Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, while addressing a delegation in Indonesia, said that the abrogation of Article 370 had ended the long-held perception of Jammu and Kashmir being separate from the rest of India. Speaking during an interaction with Indonesian think tanks and academics, Khurshid emphasised that the constitutional provision had for decades contributed to a sense of separateness in Kashmir, which he called a “major problem.”
“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.
He highlighted the significant developments since the removal of the special status in August 2019, noting a 65 per cent voter turnout in subsequent elections, which led to the formation of an elected government in the region. Khurshid underscored that this democratic participation was a reflection of the growing normalcy and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.
“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—would be a step backward,” he stated.
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Khurshid is part of an all-party parliamentary delegation led by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, which is visiting Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The delegation’s objective is to brief foreign governments and experts on India’s regional security posture, particularly in the wake of Operation Sindoor and evolving geopolitical dynamics.
The discussion in Indonesia also touched on the domestic political debate surrounding Article 370. After taking office in September 2024, the Omar Abdullah-led government in Jammu and Kashmir—where Congress is an alliance partner—introduced a resolution in the Assembly seeking the restoration of Article 370. This move was strongly opposed by the BJP, which reiterated that the special status would not be reinstated, stating, “Even if Indira Gandhi were to return from heaven, Article 370 will not be restored.”
Although the Congress initially opposed the abrogation of Article 370, the party later acknowledged that the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the constitutional validity of the Centre’s decision had settled the matter. It has since stated that the issue is now closed from a constitutional and legal standpoint. Khurshid’s remarks in Indonesia appear to reflect a reconciliatory tone within the Congress on the subject, emphasizing national integration, voter participation, and regional development over political contestation.
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