Party that supports BJP will be wiped out: Azad

Fayaz Bukhari

SRINAGAR, Nov 10: Former Chief Minister and leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, today said that any political party of the State that supports Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be wiped out.
While speaking to media on the sidelines of a political rally at Devsar in South Kashmir today, Azad said that any regional party that makes alliance with BJP will get drowned once for all.
“God has been very kind that Kashmir didn’t get drowned in the recent floods. If any party from Kashmir makes an alliance with BJP, floods spread them but politically it will drown them once for all. Perhaps God will not even save them. If any party wants to drown, let it. My comments are not against any particular political party but any one that makes an alliance with them”, said Azad.
The former Chief Minister said that tone of some of the political parties in the State is changing day by day as they want BJP should give them some space. “I have seen the tone of lot of parties changing these days. Every week their tone keeps changing. Some parties are trying to come close to BJP so as to get some space in the party. It is very easy to come to power but once it gets drowned, it is very difficult to rescue it”, he said.
Azad said that some regional parties are running disinformation campaign against Congress but during two and a half years rule, Congress has given best Government to the State. “Congress party got only two and a half years of Government in Jammu and Kashmir. And in the last 40 years people had forgot Congress because the regional parties have run a propaganda campaign against the party. When they saw it provided the best Government, the people in Kashmir in particular and Ladakh and Jammu in general want longer tenure for Congress party”, he added.
While answering to a question about former Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Srinagar joining PDP, Azad said: “I am not talking of a particular officer. The officers are not with any particular party. They are with the Government. Some of these officers are corrupt, some are killers, some are good and some are bad. They don’t belong to any particular party as Governments keep on changing”, he added.
The former Chief Minister said that actions of any officer, good or bad, who joins a political party are attributed to that party. “A Government officer is in service for 30-40 years and during that period the Governments keep changing and they don’t belong to a particular party. When officers, whether good or bad, join a party, his actions are being attributed to that party”, he added.
Azad sought a decisive mandate from the people of the State for his Congress party in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
“We are seeking a decisive mandate from the people of the State for the Congress party in the Assembly elections,” Azad said at a rally at Devsar.
He asserted it is the Congress-led Government alone which has proved credentials of being pro-development and that it alone can meet the expectations of the flood-ravaged people.
Maintaining that the Congress-led Government between 2006 and 2008 laid emphasis on equitable, balanced and all-round development of the State, Azad said for better future of the youth and to revive an era of prosperity, development and fast-track infrastructure building, the people should allow the Congress an opportunity to lead the State Government.
Recalling the thrust laid on speedy and time-bound execution of developmental projects to set the State on the path of prosperity and progress, Azad said it is the Congress- led Government which scripted a new chapter of development- oriented governance in the State.
Azad said unprecedented developmental activities were started in the State with focus on building of roads, bridges, tourism development authorities, inter-regional highways, schools, colleges, off-site university campuses, health infrastructure, etc.
Alluding to the measures taken to promote development and decentralise administrative machinery in South Kashmir, Azad said that during his tenure as Chief Minister, two new districts and many new tehsils were created in South Kashmir which brought governance to the doorstep of the people.
Azad said as the Union Health Minister, historic and first-of-its-kind decision of setting up a medical college at Anantnag, in addition to Doda, Kathua, Rajouri and Baramulla, was taken by him which upon becoming functional, will enable the people to avail of secondary and advanced health care at their doorsteps.
Referring to the “unequalled devastation caused by the recent floods to the public infrastructure, private properties and commercial establishments”, Azad said rehabilitation and reconstruction of the State will be the first monumental challenge before the new Government.
Azad said in such a scenario it is incumbent upon the people to choose and elect a Government which can deliver on the front of rebuilding the State in an effective and expeditious manner.
Azad asked the people to recall the support and funding which was extended by the Central Government in 2005 and the role played by the Congress-led State Government in providing relief and rehabilitation to the earthquake-affected people of Uri, Karnah, Tangdhar, etc.
Castigating the NDA Government for not extending adequate and appropriate financial support to the State Government for carrying out reconstruction and rehabilitation activities, Azad said that affected people are facing unmitigated hardships due to chilly winter, adding that the role and response of NDA Government in a humanitarian crisis has been grossly inadequate and partisan.
Urging the people to elect a Government which is ‘capable’, ‘determined’ and ‘time-tested’ to undertake the reconstruction and rehabilitation exercise as also live up to the expectations of the people, Azad said that people of the State can rewrite their destiny by giving a decisive mandate in favour of the Congress Party.

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