Rejects speculation of his name being considered for post of VP
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, July 24: Maintaining that Article 370 and Statehood are two different issues, former Chief Minister and Chairperson of Democratic Progressive Azad Party, Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that sooner the Statehood is restored, the better it would be.
“For the development, progress and overall betterment of the region, Jammu and Kashmir must get back the Statehood status,” he said, during an informal chat with media persons while on a personal visit to Katra town in Reasi district.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
He also dismissed the speculation about him being nominated for the Vice-President’s post and asked the media to stop resorting to such rumours.
Click here to watch video
Azad stressed that Statehood is not an issue of Hindu, Muslim, Kashmiri or non-Kashmiri, but a concern of every party, region and religion. “Either it is BJP in Jammu, National Conference in Kashmir, Congress or PDP and for all religions, Statehood is very important,” he opined.
Azad recalled that when he was a Union Minister, he had recommended the conversion of three Union Territories into States and all the three granted Statehood, but for the first time in his 50 years of political career, he saw his own State being turned into a Union Territory.
“That was an unfortunate but I am thankful to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister for promising that Statehood will be restored to Jammu and Kashmir. I firmly believe that they will return the Statehood. But the sooner it is done, the better it will be,” he added.
Maintaining that Article 370 and Statehood are two different things, Azad said that their immediate demand is for the restoration of Statehood. “As far as Article 370 is concerned, I have repeatedly maintained that only Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the Supreme Court could restore the same and their verdict is already public,” he added.
On the speculation of him being elevated to the post of Vice-President, Azad said that these are all just assumptions. “Look, there are several good things that are unique to Jammu and Kashmir, which is why it is called the Paradise on Earth. But there are also a lot of rumours being peddled here. I request people and the media — please stop spreading them,” he said.
Azad pointed out that there are important works to be done in Jammu and Kashmir. “It needs to have its Statehood back, development works should be carried out, unemployment needs to be eliminated. Finding solutions to these issues should be the priority,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
