Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Jun 5: Senior Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid on Thursday threw his weight behind Rahul Gandhi, who has come under fire from the NDA over his “Narendra, surrender” jibe aimed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing Congress workers in Bhopal earlier this week, Gandhi accused Modi of capitulating to former US President Donald Trump’s demands during his tenure. Gandhi’s remarks — “Jaise udhar se Trump ne ishara kiya, phone uthaya, kaha Modi ji kya kar rahe ho. Narendra… Surrender aur ji huzur kar Modi ji ne Trump ke ishare ka palan kiya” — suggested that Modi blindly followed Trump’s cues.

Khurshid, speaking to IANS, declared, “Rahul Gandhi is right. I support him fully. I am in Rahul Gandhi’s party, and I follow his guidance for my politics. It’s very clear — I stand by him.”

When asked about Gandhi’s remarks being aired on Pakistani television to fuel anti-India narratives, Khurshid brushed aside the concerns. “We strongly oppose what Pakistan has done. We want Pakistan to be brought to a position where it can never promote terrorism against India. That is our only concern. We don’t watch Pakistani TV — our Indian channels are enough for us,” he said.

Khurshid also reflected on his participation in the all-party delegation led by JD(U) MP Sanjay Jha, which visited Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia under Operation Sindoor Outreach — a mission to highlight India’s stance on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

During the tour, Khurshid, who served as External Affairs Minister under the UPA, noted the growing domestic political divide and lamented the difficulty of uniting around patriotic causes.

In a post on X, he 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?”

When pressed about that statement, Khurshid doubled down. “Why is it so difficult to be patriotic? Why isn’t anyone answering me? If someone is saying something for the nation, let them say it. Why create problems over it? Saying something in the interest of the country is the right thing to do. Everyone should support it.”

The remarks come at a time when the NDA and Congress continue to spar over issues of national security and India’s global image. With the Lok Sabha elections on the horizon, the controversy around Gandhi’s statement has added a new dimension to the political battle between the ruling coalition and the opposition.