Senior Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has publicly endorsed Rahul Gandhi’s contentious “Narendra, surrender” comment directed at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, amidst escalating political discourse over India’s diplomatic posture following Operation Sindoor.
In a statement made during an all-party diplomatic mission across Southeast Asia, Khurshid affirmed his allegiance to Gandhi’s leadership, stating, “Rahul Gandhi is right. I support him. I belong to his party and follow his guidance for my politics.”
Gandhi’s assertion, implying that Modi capitulated to U.S. President Donald Trump’s pressure during the ceasefire following Operation Sindoor, has ignited a political firestorm. The BJP has vehemently criticized the remark, labeling it as misleading and an affront to national security. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti questioned Gandhi’s comprehension of military terminology, emphasizing the distinction between “surrender” and “ceasefire.”
Khurshid, addressing concerns about the potential misuse of Gandhi’s remarks by Pakistani media, dismissed such apprehensions, stating, “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.”
During the international outreach, Khurshid emphasized the importance of national unity over partisan politics. In a social media post, he queried, “Is it so difficult to be patriotic?” He elaborated, “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.”
The all-party delegation, which included Khurshid, visited countries such as Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, aiming to consolidate international support against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. Khurshid highlighted the delegation’s success in countering Pakistan’s narrative and securing backing for India’s stance.
Operation Sindoor, launched on May 6, involved missile strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan. India reported the elimination of over 100 militants, while Pakistan claimed civilian casualties. The operation led to heightened tensions, culminating in a ceasefire agreement on May 10.
Khurshid clarified that the ceasefire was initiated at Pakistan’s request, stating, “It was not India but Pakistan that initiated contact during Operation Sindoor to ‘stop’, and that the call for cessation of hostilities came from Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations , to which India responded accordingly.”
Within the Congress party, reactions to Gandhi’s remark have varied. While Khurshid has expressed unequivocal support, other leaders, such as Shashi Tharoor, have advocated for a more measured approach, emphasizing the need for a unified national stance in international forums.
Sharif Appeals to Trump for Further Mediation 