Split in Congress over Article 370 continues, now Salman Khurshid claims Congress too would have aspired to revoke it

The issue of abrogation of Article 370 has ripped apart the Congress party with one faction supporting the government’s momentous move while the other vehemently criticizing the government for its decision to strip the state of the separate status. Now, Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid has concurred with the BJP government’s epoch-making move claiming Congress too would have aspired to revoke the Article 370.

Speaking to media, Khurshid said, “370 has a historical place. The article was never permanent. We know it was never permanent. We too would have aspired to remove 370. The purpose of 370 was to keep Kashmir linked with India irretrievably and that what must remain.”

However, Khurshid raised concerns about the manner in which the objective of doing away with the Article 370 was achieved by the government. Khurshid stated that the government didn’t “cover us with glory” in the manner in which the Article was abrogated without the consultation of the state government and by doing it with a stroke of a pen.

Prior to Khurshid, several other Congress leaders have expressed their support for the abrogation of Article 370. Senior Congress leader and a close aide of Rahul Gandhi, Jyotiraditya Scindia also backed the government in its decision of revoking the partition relic. Scindia tweeted that the move was in the country’s interest and therefore he supports it.

Deepender Hooda too extended his support for the abrogation saying that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and such a move will be beneficial to Kashmiris. Another senior Congress leader Janardan Dwivedi, a close aide of former Congress President and currently UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, too went against the party’s stand and welcomed the move.

Congress’ chief whip Bhubaneswar Kalita had also resigned from Rajya Sabha because he was upset over Congress’ stand to oppose Centre’s move to dilute Article 370. He stated that Congress’ stand on this issue was “against the people’s feelings” and that the party seemed “ hell-bent on political suicide.” He later joined the BJP.