Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, May 30: In a significant political statement that has drawn wide attention, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Salman Khurshid has acknowledged that the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 has led to “prosperity” in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking in Indonesia as part of an all-party parliamentary delegation, Khurshid noted that the move has ended a long-standing “problem” of separatism in the Valley.

Interacting with Indonesian think tanks and members of academia, Khurshid stated, “Kashmir had a major problem for a long time. Article 370 gave the impression that it was separate from the rest of India. That has now ended. We’ve seen remarkable change since then.”

He further highlighted the region’s voter turnout of 65 percent in subsequent elections as a sign of increased public participation and acceptance of democratic processes. “There’s an elected government in Kashmir today, and it would be unwise to undo the progress and prosperity that have come post-abrogation,” he said.

Khurshid’s latest remarks mark a notable shift from his previous position. In 2019, he had described Article 370 as a “bond” rather than a barrier, and emphasized that the special status allowed J&K to integrate with India under unique circumstances.

However, the Congress party, which had earlier fiercely opposed the BJP-led government’s move, appears to be subtly reworking its public messaging. The Congress Working Committee had initially condemned the revocation as unconstitutional and undemocratic, joining hands with regional parties like the National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) under the Gupkar Declaration to defend the state’s special status.

Eventually, the party distanced itself from the Gupkar Alliance following political criticism and changed ground dynamics. In December 2023, when the Supreme Court upheld the government’s decision, the Congress acknowledged the judgment but remained critical of the manner in which Article 370 was scrapped.

Khurshid is part of a high-level Indian parliamentary delegation visiting Southeast Asia to explain India’s foreign policy and internal security initiatives. The team, led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, also includes MPs from across political lines such as the BJP’s Aparajita Sarangi, TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M)’s John Brittas, and former diplomat Mohan Kumar.

The visit comes in the wake of Operation Sindoor—India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir following the Pahalgam terror attack.

The team is engaging with policymakers and strategic institutions in Indonesia, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, outlining India’s firm stance against cross-border terrorism and underlining national unity, especially post-Article 370.

While Khurshid’s statement may reflect a more pragmatic outlook within Congress, political observers see it as a moment of reckoning—a sign of how the debate over Kashmir’s status is gradually shifting from polemics to performance.