Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 31: Ahead of Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Congress has put a united face as two top leaders from both the `factions’, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Pradesh Congress Committee president, Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz were today seen jointly sharing `dais’ at a function organized at the PCC headquarters.
The occasion was to pay floral tributes to Late Indira Gandhi on her martyrdom day. Union Health Minister who is here on the two-day visit to the border areas of Samba and Jammu districts, arrived the Jammu air port in the morning. From there, he straightway moved to the Pradesh Congress Committee headquarters at Shahidi Chowk. PCC chief Prof Saif-ud-din Soz had already arrived. With the arrival of Ghulam Nabi Azad, the function commenced. Dy Chief Minister Tara Chand besides several other senior leaders of the party had reached Jammu airport to receive Mr Azad.
After a long time, the sharing of dais by both the top leaders and that too, when the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections are drawing nearer, was clear indication to the party cadre that unity was the `mantra’ for the Congress party to emerge winner in coming polls. The party high command is said to have given the clear directive to the party cadre to get united and rise above petty interests to strengthen party in all the pockets.
Paying tributes to Indira Gandhi, Mr Azad recalled his association with Mrs Gandhi, as he had privilege to work under her guidance in the Union Cabinet. He praised her capabilities of leadership and said her revolutionary steps took nation to new heights of progress and prosperity. She steered the country out of several challenges under her bold leadership. She sacrificed her life for the sake of unity and integrity of the nation.
Prof Soz while paying floral tributes to the former Prime Minister, described her as dynamic and visionary leader under whose stewardship India emerged as strong nation in the international arena, apart from achieving great success towards eradication of poverty and hunger. She always cared for poor and common masses and mingled with them in order to better understand their sufferings. She was the symbol of empowerment of women and launched various programmes for up-liftment of weaker sections of society. He recalled her keen interest for the development of the State and the over all affairs of J&K and her bold initiatives to strengthen Congress Party and also strengthening secular and democratic forces in the State. PCC president especially mentioned her initiative to link Kashmir through Railway by laying the rail project up to Udhampur which has now been linked to the last corner of the State.
Earlier, DCC Jammu urban president Om Chopra ( Ex-MLA) welcomed both the leaders and paid tributes to Mrs Gandhi. PCC general secretary and spokesman Ravinder Sharma (MLC), conducted the proceedings.
Prominent among others present on the occasion included- Minister for PHE Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Housing and Horticulture Raman Bhalla, Minister Incharge Health Shabir Khan, MP Madan Lal Sharma, Pt Mangat Ram Sharma, Ex-MPs Dharma Pal Sharma, Janak Raj Gupta, former Ministers Mula Ram, R S Chib, Suman Bhagat, Lal Mohd Sabir, G S Charak, Jugal Kishore, Yogesh Sawhney, senior members Swarn Lata, Kuldip Raj Verma, Balwan Singh, Naresh Gupta-MLC, Indu Pawar- MLA, Ashok Sharma Ex-MLA, Manmohan Singh, Shah Nawaz, Ashwani Puri, Pardeep Parihar, Parkash Sharma and others.
Meanwhile, in yet another function held at PCC office Srinagar under the leadership of Bashir Ahmed Magray several leaders and party activists paid tributes to Late Indira Gandhi. Minister for Medical Education and Sports Taj Mohi-ud-Din was the chief guest. MLC Mohd Muzaffar Parray, senior leaders Mohd Anwar Bhat, Gulam Nabi Mir Lasjan, Ali Mohd Sofi and Mohd Sultan Mundoo were also present. These leaders paid rich tributes to Late Indira Gandhi.
Similar functions were organized separately to pay tributes to Indira Gandhi by BCC Akhnoor, PCC Udhampur, Kathua, BCC Chenani, Pradesh Youth Congress, Congress Seva Dal and other frontal organizations of the party besides district and block Congress committees across the State.
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