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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Is it so difficult to be patriotic: Salman Khurshid to those criticising his anti-terror mission
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads New Delhi: After Shashi Tharoor, who recently hit back at those who politically criticised his conduct as a delegate of the Indian outreach mission , senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid on Monday asked "is it difficult to be patriotic?" in a passionate disapproval of the partisan criticism from the domestic political gallery of his spirited support of India's Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and his defence of the state of affairs in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370. The former external affairs minister's remarks on these issues abroad had led to a BJP-Congress skirmish at home besides certain sections of the social media targeting him."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?" Khurshid said on social media. Incidentally, Khurshid is currently considered to be in the good books of the Congress leadership, a fact that still has not spared him of partisan criticism from the political told a news agency in Kuala Lumpur, "People keep saying, 'what are you doing in a delegation where there are people from BJP? What are you doing there? What are we doing here?" We are doing here, what is needed for the country. No matter which party you are from, today, what is needed is a single voice to speak in favour of the nation and that is what we are doing here. I think when I say, is it so difficult to be a patriot? That is the question that has to be asked of those who are putting out tweets and saying things that I think I believe are not very encouraging when you want to do something for the nation".He further said, "People are saying, he (Salman Khurshid) is supporting so and so and he is not supporting so and so; they are supporting the government etc. Have I come here to oppose the Government of India? If I wanted to do that, I would stay at home. I have come here to speak for India, whoever speaks for India and in whichever way they speak for India, whatever is said for India, we are here to support."A few days ago, Khurshid had said, as a member of the Indian delegation, that it was unfortunate that Pakistan wants to undo the prosperity that has come to Jammu & Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370, and that the existence of Article 370 had somehow given the impression that J&K was separate from the rest of the country. While he earned criticism from certain sections for that comment, the fact is even the Congress leadership, which initially opposed the abrogation of Article 370, has since back pedalled on the issue, and is preferring these days only to seek the revival of statehood for J&K.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Cong, BJP root cause of all problems ailing country: Kejri
New Delhi: AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday alleged that "mainstream politics" of parties like Congress and BJP for the past 75 years is the root cause of all problems ailing the country, as he tried to reclaim lost ground by projecting the work done his party on education, health and subsidised power as AAP's brand of "alternative politics". After AAP suffered a drubbing at the hands of BJP in the Delhi assembly polls in Feb that reduced the party in power to a 22 member opposition, Kejriwal's outreach on Tuesday was a clear attempt by AAP to try to re-invent itself. Kejriwal also accused the "mainstream" political parties for historically engaging in communal politics. "The world is moving towards AI. Meanwhile, these people are busy teaching our children Hindu-Muslim 24x7. This is the BJP-Congress model of mainstream politics," Kejriwal said. The former Delhi CM made the launch of AAP's new student wing — Association of Students For Alternative Politics — his platform to push for reviving the party's "alternative politics" pitch as it announced plans of reaching out to the youth and mobilising young voters. AAP's new students wing comes in the backdrop of Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti — AAP's original student wing launched in 2014 failing to make an impact. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Fastest Selling Plots of Mysore from 40L | 40+ Amenities PurpleBrick Learn More Undo Kejriwal also attacked the BJP-led dispensation alleging that "it's been barely three months since BJP formed govt in Delhi and it is working towards dismantling the education system in the national capital, built by the AAP during its tenure... For 10 years, the private schools couldn't raise fees. But in just three months of BJP rule in Delhi, all private schools are hiking fees again." "We ensured 24x7 electricity. That is alternative politics. But now, with BJP in power, Delhi is facing 3-4 hour-long power cuts again," he alleged. It is pertinent to point that since the Delhi Polls results, Kejriwal has chosen to stay away from the limelight in Delhi and has been largely focussing on Punjab while leader of opposition in Delhi assembly and Atishi and state convener Saurabh Bharadwaj have been leading the way on countering BJP as the opposition. In fact Kejriwal's address at the launch of ASAP was the first major outreach in the Capital since he last spoke on March 23 to mark Shaheedi Diwas at the party headquarters. Also an attempt by the party leadership to put up a united front comes in the backdrop of the storm brewing in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. As many as 15 AAP councillors resigned from the party citing stalled development works and internal discontent to form a new party the Indraprastha Vikas Party.
Time of India
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Making our case
That there was a BJP-Congress spat over choosing MPs for all-party delegations was par for the political course. GOI's idea itself is a clever one. India's global profile has changed vastly since the days of socialism – but not so much that, in high stakes contexts, its words carry sufficient weight to obviate the need for reiteration. The timing is clever, too. Within days of the ceasefire, it may have looked desperate. Months after it, the world would have moved on – remember, this is a world with Trump in it. Latish May is pretty much the perfect time for sending teams of MPs to world capitals for making India's case. And as our columnist, a member of one of the delegations, writes, the best time for this outreach is between Pakistani provocations. The list of countries is also smartly picked. Some destinations pick themselves – US, EU HQ, Russia, Japan, Saudi Arabia, perhaps even South Korea and Singapore. But the choice of the rest of the 32 capitals speaks to careful diplomatic calculations. Gulf states are heavily represented because their relationship upgrade with India is a part of their effort to kill the perception of being the oil-powered HQ of Islamic orthodoxy. Malaysia is generally Pak-friendly. But it's not so invested that efforts to reach out will be wasted. Indonesia, with the world's largest Muslim population, is a crucial pick. Algeria is a non-hostile Islamic state and, therefore, worth winning over. Brazil is an economic partner with great potential and a Latin American heavyweight. UK, by Western standards, is no longer an economic heavyweight, but its brand still carries some sheen. France and Germany are EU heavyweights. Greece and Slovenia aren't. But visiting Athens and Ljubljana is necessary to send the message that India is not the kind of country that treats small players in big groupings with indifference. Why the likes of Sierra Leone, Republic of Congo and Liberia? Because Africa is where the next diplomatic great game will play out and it's also a hotbed of jihadi extremism. The exclusions are meaningful too. Beijing being ignored is a strong message. Türkiye, whose ruler Erdogan won't include opposition MPs in delegations to inspect public toilets, is a recent backer of Pak military – and deserves a very cold shoulder. Clever, too, is the choice of MPs. Confident articulation is an essential skill when trying to win friends in the cold and calculating world of global realpolitik. That's why former ambassadors are part of these delegations. India has plenty of talking points – it's crucial it makes those points smartly. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
