‘Is It Difficult To Be Patriotic?’ Salman Khurshid Hits Back at Congress Criticism Over Anti-Terror Delegations
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Monday publicly hit back at the criticism emanating from within his own party regarding the participation of its leaders in Central government-led all-party delegations sent abroad to articulate India’s anti-terrorism stance. Khurshid questioned the party’s priorities, asking if it was “so difficult to be patriotic” when India’s message against terrorism was being conveyed to the world.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Khurshid expressed his dismay: “When on 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?”
His comments come in the wake of sustained criticism from some sections of the Congress party directed at its own senior figures, most notably Shashi Tharoor and Khurshid himself, for being part of these delegations and, in some instances, for their articulation of India’s position, which some in Congress felt was too aligned with the ruling BJP’s narrative.
The BJP was quick to react to Khurshid’s remarks. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya termed the sentiment “tragic and deeply ironic.” “It reflects the cost of a warped idea of secularism that the Congress party has long championed, one that confuses the urgent need to confront terror with a compulsive instinct to appease,” Malviya posted on X. He accused the Congress of compromising national security for “vote-bank politics” and often putting “partisan interests above the country’s welfare.” Malviya further alleged that the Congress was “emboldening enemies of the state and betraying the nation” by bringing communal politics into India’s fight against terrorism.
The controversy has its roots in the aftermath of the heinous terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, where 26 tourists were killed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists. Following this, the Central government initiated all-party delegations to various countries to present a united front against terrorism.
However, an internal rift appeared within the Congress. The party leadership reportedly did not suggest the names of the four senior Congress leaders – Shashi Tharoor, Salman Khurshid, Manish Tewari, and Amar Singh – who eventually joined these delegations, apparently without prior consultation with the party. Both Tharoor and Khurshid have past experience in foreign affairs, with Khurshid having served as External Affairs Minister.
The Congress has also been critical of the government’s handling of ‘Operation Sindoor’, India’s military response to the Pahalgam attack, raising questions about military losses. This stance, along with the criticism of its own leaders participating in the outreach, has drawn sharp reactions.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had recently made a controversial remark that “our MPs are roaming and terrorists are also roaming,” which invited severe backlash from the ruling party. Ramesh also explicitly stated that Shashi Tharoor’s explanation of the government’s anti-terror stance during his visit to Panama did not represent the official position of the Congress party. Tharoor’s statements in Panama led to him being dubbed a “super spokesperson of the BJP” by some within his party, a charge he has dismissed, stating he would discuss the matter with colleagues upon his return.
