‘Division in society dangerous for country’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 20: Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that every person was affected with the Pakistan sponsored terrorism in the Jammu and Kashmir.
In an apparent reference to ‘The Kashmir Files’, the AICC leader said every citizen of Jammu and Kashmir was hit by the over three-decade long Pak-sponsored terrorism. He said linking terrorism to a particular religion was “absolutely wrong” proposition.
“Pakistan-sponsored militancy has brought death and destruction and is responsible for all the evil things,” Azad said while addressing a function organised by the civil society of Jammu to felicitate him for his Padma Bhushan award. Click here to watch video
“Many lost their lives, thousands of women were widowed and lakhs of children were orphaned – they targeted everyone – Muslims, Hindus, Pandits and even did not spare religious places,” he said.
Azad said that over 90% of the evils in the society are because of the politicians who divide the people for their vote bank, and expressed doubts whether any politician can bring a change in society. He asked the civil society to take a lead and mobilise people against injustice or oppression.
The AICC leader said that the emergence of Jammu as a cosmopolitan city was the only positive of the impact of violence in J&K.
“Jammu is the only place where the people of all the 22 districts of J&K and Ladakh are residing,” he said, adding Kashmir has no such advantage even as it maintained its secular credentials despite militancy.
Azad said that over the past 47 years of his political career, he had delivered over one lakh public speeches but “I will not deliver a political speech today because the politics in the country has downgraded so much, I am forced to think whether we are human beings.”
Remembering the Mahatma Gandhi, Azad said, “a true follower of a religion is the biggest secular like Gandhi, while a pretender is very dangerous”.
“The civil society should own responsibility and counter the narrative of the political parties, whether my party or any other party, who are involved in dividing people 24×7.
“I am not going to forgive anyone. You have to lead and guide the people and let them decide whom to vote for,” he said.
He referred to the Kathua rape incident as an example of the country’s unity, saying everyone demanded justice for the girl irrespective of their religion.
The Congress leader also gave a piece of his mind on the recently concluded Punjab election, saying that SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal, 95, should not have fought the elections.
Recalling his college days in 1969, Azad said he was student of SP College Srinagar and there was 15-day function in connection with the 100th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. He actively participated in the programme and from there his political life began even before formally joining Congress Party. From there an ideology developed in his mind and with that mindset he started his career in politics. Azad said unity in diversity is the strength of our country and engineering division in the society, is more dangerous for the country like India.
Without naming any party or group, Azad said the people who are sowing the seeds of hate and creating a wedge in the society can never be the well wishers of the country. The politics in the country has gone to such a low level that it has killed humanity within a human being.
“The divisions are not only being created between Hindus and Muslims, or Sikhs and Hindus but between Scheduled Castes and Brahmans, STs/ Gujjars and non-Gujjars and other categories for their vested political interests. For Indian democracy such moves are highly dangerous than anything else,” Azad cautioned.
Referring to the concept of ‘Chenab Valley’ as presumed by some people, Azad said it is not only Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar but the area below Reasi up to Akhnoor and Khour is also part of ‘Chenab Valley’. Rather it would be more appropriate to call Akhnoor area as Chenab Valley because ahead of Reasi it is totally hilly region and from Akhnoor it actually appears like Valley where irrigation facilities have also been created with the construction of Ranbir and Partap Canals. So, this entire area is ‘Chenab Valley’ and the attempts should be avoided to divide people on this count.
“Rajouri- Poonch belt has been termed as ‘Pir Panjal’ region and on this narrative, attempts were being made to create wedge among the people. We must shun such type of attempts to divide people for vested interests,” Azad maintained.
Azad during his speech assured full support to the Civil Society members present at the event. “We have to work together to make J&K a paradise once again,” Azad maintained.
Jammu Bar Association president, M K Bhardwaj, former Advocate General Aslam Goni and former DGP, S P Vaid also spoke on the occasion.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
