‘Power hungry NC can go with any party’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 17: Asserting that power hungry National Conference can go with any party, former J&K Chief Minister and DPAP chairman, Ghulam Nabi Azad today indicated that he would not be contesting upcoming Lok Sabha elections but would be campaigning for his party candidates.
Talking to media-persons on the sidelines of a party function in Nagrota today, Azad said, “Parliament election is 100 percent taking place on its time and I can only guess about the Assembly polls (in J&K) as I have no contact with the Election Commission or Government. But it (Assembly elections) has to take place as the Supreme Court has set a deadline of September 2024.
On being asked whether he would be contesting himself in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Azad said “I have to campaign for my party (candidates) and if I contest, I will be held up at one place.”
Azad termed the National Conference as an opportunistic party, which can align with anyone provided they come to power. He referred to their history of political opportunism and power-seeking tactics and accused the NC of prioritizing their hunger for power over the interests of the people of J&K.
Azad pointed out that the NC had previously formed alliances with the BJP, despite ideological differences, and remained silent on critical issues such as the revocation of Article 370. “I was aware of their talks with BJP in 2014,” he added.
On the ongoing farmers’ agitation, he said this is for the second time that the protests are happening at a grand scale.
“I appeal to the Prime Minister to resolve their issues once for all. It is not good for the Government and the farmers as well as the people who will face trouble moving around,” he said.
Earlier, addressing the rally in Nagrota, Azad appealed to the people of Kashmir, including Kashmiri Pandits, not to sell their land in the Valley.
“The situation is improving and we should not be panicked by occasional incidents (of terror attacks). Such attacks should not happen but this is a reality that shootings are taking place everywhere, including the most secure places like the USA. But nobody flees their homes out of fear,” he said, requesting people to live together and prepare for the coming elections.
He said no Assembly election has taken place in Jammu and Kashmir for the past 10 years which saw many “good and bad” things.
“Leaving the past, we have to look forward to the future and see what can be done to improve the conditions of the people of all sections of the society,” he said.
Azad, who has refrained from contesting Lok Sabha elections after his defeat in 2014 Lok Sabha polls, asked his party men to gear up as 2024 would be the election year for Jammu and Kashmir.
He commended the tireless dedication of party workers in expanding the party’s presence across every corner of the J&K within a span of just one and half years. He stressed the significance of ensuring victory on all Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in the upcoming elections. He underscored the pivotal role of grassroots mobilization in securing electoral triumphs and advancing the party’s agenda.
“As we prepare for the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, it is imperative that we intensify our grassroots efforts to secure victory,” Azad said and added that his Government had sanctioned numerous development projects aimed at enhancing education, healthcare, infrastructure, and tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
Prominent among others who were present on the occasion included- GM Saroori, RS Chib, Anita Thakur, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Vinod Mishra, Salman Nizami, Sunita Arora, Mohinder Sharma, Riyaz Naz, Choudhary Gharu Ram, Shafiq Shabnam, PR Manhas, Gourav Chopra, Ashok Bhagat, Sobat Ali, Prabha Salathia, Anoop Khajuria, Kirtan Singh and others.
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