* ‘Decision on talks with Pak must be left to Centre’
Gopal Sharma
KHOUR (Jammu), Dec 26: Former Union Minister and senior All India Congress Committee (AICC) leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad has put to rest all speculations about his possible exit from the party, calling himself a “24 Carat Congressman” and claimed that he was not upset with the party, but was instead working for uniting all the workers.
Talking to reporters after addressing a large public rally at the border township of Khour in Akhnoor sector of Jammu district today, Azad said he was purely a Congressman and nobody should have any iota of doubt about it.
“Yes, I am a Congressman. Who told you I am not? 24 ‘Carat’ Congressman. How does it matter if 18 Carats are challenging 24 Carat?” Azad asked, responding to questions about the speculations of his possible exit from the party like former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh.
Azad, who was among the 23 Congress leaders who had sought an organisational overhaul last year, said he is not displeased with the party.
“Those dividing parties only see divisions. We are the ones who are uniting people. We are forging unity in the party ranks as we are for unification,” Azad asserted.
The former Chief Minister has been holding public rallies in Kashmir and Jammu regions for the past nearly two months and was seen accompanied by his loyalists including senior party leaders and former Ministers who recently resigned from their party posts in a revolt against J&K Congress president, Ghulam Ahmed Mir.
When asked about his call for reforms, he said reforms are needed in every party, every society and country. Azad said reforms are a dynamic process and imperative for every party and society as a whole for the benefit of people.
“Reforms are an ongoing process and necessary in every party. The Legislature is also a sort of reform. Many evils of the past are not there in the society today because of reforms,” he said, adding the communalism and casteism prevalent in society today also need to be reformed.
When asked about his views on “white colour terrorism” highlighted by an Army officer, Azad said he did not know what does he meant by it.
“I have already said that the politicians should have done the right things for the welfare of the people but sometimes they did the work by dividing the people. We should desist from it,” he said.
To a question about the prospects of Congress in the next Assembly elections likely to be held after the delimitation exercise, Azad said people are the masters in a democratic set-up and defeat and win of any party is in their hands.
However, he said, people across Jammu and Kashmir are “fed up” with the BJP because of rising inflation and growing unemployment.
Earlier, addressing large rally Azad said people of border area right from Kathua up to Khour, Rajouri-Poonch and Karnah- Kupwara are facing the brunt of Pakistani shelling since 1947. Their third generation now has witnessed it and many of them, have their birth and were brought under the shadow of guns. They are standing shoulder to shoulder with our troops along the borders. Country must be thankful to these people and our security agencies guarding borders.
At the same time, they have suffered a lot during shelling. They have lost their dear ones, cattle and even their houses were targeted and damaged. They were disturbed and pushed back many times due to shelling. But they being so courageous, returned to their houses and lands and started cultivating.
Launching attack on Pakistan for waging wars and abetting terrorism, Azad said they continued to push armed men into this side but our Army and other security agencies have been giving an appropriate response. They tried to disturb peace and break our brotherhood many times but they could not succeed. The people here have given them a befitting reply.
Azad said Pakistan can not take even an inch of J&K’s territory despite al, its efforts. ” We want to remind Pakistan of its worst defeat in 1971 when our forces under the leadership of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi separated Bangladesh from Pakistan. If you make any adventure, we will teach you a lesson,” Azad said.
Referring to demand of the NC and PDP to hold talks with Pakistan to restore peace in J&K, Azad said the decision with regard to the dialogue should be left to the BJP and the Centre.” We are fighting Pak sponsored propaganda and terrorism for the last three decades, we can not afford internal fighting. If we have to move forward, we have to stand united and not to fall to the mischievous propaganda,” the AICC leader said.
Without naming any party, Azad said some people were indulging in creating wedge in the society and playing politics of religion and regionalism for the vote bank. “Such things are dangerous for the society and the country. Instead of dividing people we must try to unite all and should avoid creating a wedge in the society on the basis of religion. While providing benefit or carrying out welfare schemes we must rise above the regionalism, castes or religion. Such trends are not healthy for a pluralistic society like ours”, Azad maintained.
Referring to the August 5, 2019 development when the special status of J&K under Article 370 was abrogated and the State was divided into two UTs, Azad said,” Our struggle is based on justice as our State was snatched along with other rights over land and jobs.”
Senor Party leaders- Tara Chand (ex-DyCM), GM Saroori, Dr Manohar Lal, Viqar Rasool, Ch Gharu Ram, Naresh Gupta and others also spoke on the occasion.
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