Gopal Sharma
JAMMU Aug 2: Former Union Health Minister and Rajya Sabha Member from Congress Party Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that Congress would emerge as single largest party in the J&K in coming Assembly elections and play leading role in the formation of next Government.
Talking to media persons at the sidelines of Congress convention at Udhampur, Mr Azad said Congress party has presence and mass base in all the three regions of the State including Ladakh, Kashmir and Jammu. Congress on the basis of its performance would emerge as single largest party in the State. It would also play a crucial role in the formation of next Government in the State.
Referring to the decision of the Congress party to contest elections at its own, Mr Azad said Congress is a national party and it has its own agenda keeping in mind country perspectives. The regional parties have their agenda, priorities and may be having some compulsions. Under such circumstances and also responding to the workers aspirations, the party high command decided to go for elections at its own. Moreover, in J&K it has now been a trend that no party is getting clear majority and coalition has become a compulsion here.
When asked about delay being caused in announcing Chief Ministerial candidate, Mr Azad said in Congress it has been a tradition to elect leader after wining elections. It will be done at the appropriate time. To yet another question, Mr Azad said it hardly matter whether he becomes CM, Soz or somebody else.
Replying to a question on the impact of any Modi or past Lok Sabha elections still in J&K, Mr Azad said during Lok Sabha elections there was some fire and enthusiasm among the BJP leadership but once the elections are over, this has started dying down.
Referring to the recent incidents of communal tensions in Basohli and Batote, Mr Azad said some political groups are trying to communalise the situation and disturb peace in the region. Now controversy over Kousernag yatra is also part of some conspiracy to disturb peace. He regretted that few months before previous 2008 elections, some groups tried to communalise the situation for the vested political interests. During long agitation the people suffered a lot. The political groups engineered polarization and now this is again being done before the coming elections. He cautioned the people to remain vigilant from such groups.
Commenting on the incident of attack on PYC general secretary R S Pathania by some people in Majalta area of Ramnagar, Mr Azad said Congress party would not tolerate ‘Goondagardi’ of some people in the area and they will receive appropriate response through law of the land and the public itself.
PCC president Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz referred to the conduct of day long convention of Congress workers being held at Udhampur and maintained that a worker has been provided opportunity to project his view point. He said similar conventions have already been held at Srinagar, Jammu and Leh. The party has gone for self-introspection in view of recent defeat and would chalk out new strategy to emerge stronger. He said such conventions would be held on all the district headquarters in coming days.
Referring to the selection of candidates PCC president said view point of party workers is also being considered. The party would select good and potential candidates and for this purpose a committee has already been framed by the party high command. A new screening committee has also been announced by party president, he added.
To a question on return of Kashmiri migrants, Prof Soz said it has been the top agenda of the Congress party to ensure safe and honourable return of Kashmiri Pandits to their homes in Valley. The party is committed for it. BJP has also included it in its party agenda and it is nothing new they have done, Prof Soz maintained.
Earlier, Mr Azad and Prof Saifuddin Soz addressed Party workers and asked them to strengthen the party in every nook and corner and work unitedly for ensuring victory of Congress candidates.
Prominent among others who also attended /spoke on the occasion included Sham Lal Sharma Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control; Raman Bhalla Minister for Housing and Horticulture; PCC vice president Thakur Hari Singh, Ex-Minister Mula Ram; PCC spokesperson Ravinder Sharma-MLC; Krishan Chand Bhagat-(MLA Chennani); Jugal Kishore Sharma Ex-minister and MLC; Bhupinder Singh Pathania- president DCC Udhampur; senior Congress leaders Brij Mohan Sharma, Ashok Gupta, Sanjay Dubey, Anil Pachiala, Surinder Khajuria, Ashok Bakshi, Rajinder, Geeta Devi, Shakeel Shah, Ashwani Puri, Sham Sharma, Vinod Khajuria and others.
On this occasion, several Senior leaders of the Panthers Party joined Indian National Congress. These leaders included Faqir Nath Ex- MLA and provincial president panthers, Daljeet Singh, Chairman Panthers Trade Union, Shakti Gupta State president Panthers Trade Union, Krishan Chand Sharma, District general secretary and others. Mr Azad and Soz welcomed them into party fold.
Follow our WhatsApp channel