Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid, who is part of an all-party delegation representing India’s stance against terrorism, expressed concern over what he described as 'distressing' political calculations being made at home while the delegation was carrying out its international mission.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Khurshid wrote, “When on a mission against terrorism to carry India’s message to the world, it's distressing that people at home are calculating political allegiances. Is it so difficult to be patriotic?”
Khurshid’s remarks come shortly after he publicly praised the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir — a move his party, the Congress, has generally opposed. His statement also coincides with the ongoing tour of the all-party delegation, currently visiting Malaysia after having completed stops in Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore. The delegation, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, was formed to highlight India’s position against terrorism, particularly in the wake of Operation Sindoor and the recent terror attack in Pahalgam.
Although Khurshid did not name any individuals or parties in his tweet, his message assumes political significance. The Congress has expressed dissatisfaction over the government’s selection process for the all-party delegation, alleging that its senior leadership was sidelined and not adequately consulted.
Also Read: Congress leader Salman Khurshid backs Article 370 abrogation
The controversy deepened following remarks from Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, who criticised the initiative, saying, “MPs are roaming and terrorists are also roaming.” The BJP responded sharply, condemning Ramesh’s comment as “atrocious.”
Responding to the backlash and clarifying his own position, Khurshid said, “People keep saying, 'What are you doing in a delegation where there are people from the BJP?' What are we doing here? No matter which party you are from, today what is needed is a single voice to speak in favour of the nation and that is what we are doing here.”
He further explained the intent behind his earlier tweet, “I think when I say 'Is it so difficult to be a patriot?' — that is the question that has to be asked of those who are putting out tweets and saying things that I believe are not very encouraging when you want to do something for the nation.”
The all-party delegation, under the leadership of Sanjay Kumar Jha, includes a diverse group of parliamentarians across party lines: BJP MPs Brij Lal, Pradan Baruah, Hemang Joshi, and Aparajita Sarangi; Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee; CPI(M)'s John Brittas; Congress leaders Salman Khurshid and Mohan Kumar.
Also Read: 'Hum honge kaamyaab': Khurshid stresses India’s unity vs terror
Follow us
