‘Would have gone in BJP long ago if wished so’
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Feb 26: Veteran Congress leader, former J&K Chief Minister and ex-LOP in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that though he was not holding any important position and retired from the Rajya Sabha, but not from the active politics.
Addressing PCC, DCC functionaries, former legislators and Ministers at a function organized at party headquarters here to accord him rousing reception, Azad told the partymen that he has retired from the Rajya Sabha, but has not quit the active politics. He would continue to work for the party and strengthen it as per his capacity.
While putting all the speculations of the people about his joining BJP to rest, Azad said, ” I would have gone in BJP long ago, if had wished so. I had very good relations with the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and we used to visit each other on Diwali or other festive occasions as well.”
“Agar Muje BJP Mein Jana Hota, Tau Mein Kab Ka Chala Gaya Hota,” Azad asserted while putting all the public speculations to rest.
Azad said that the aim and effort of every Congressman should be to strengthen the party, especially in these tough times. He said that it’s time to work more with close co-ordination in the wake of challenges before the party.
The veteran leader asserted that he shall continue his efforts to strengthen the party throughout the country including Jammu and Kashmir by whatever way it is possible.
Referring to his long innings of 42 years in the party and the legislative experience, Azad said he had worked with many Prime Ministers right from Indira Gandhi to Dr Manmohan Singh and remained Union Minister for several terms. He said the present time is more challenging and every Congressman shall have to put concerted efforts.
He said that difference in the Congress ideology and the BJP is that Congress believes in uniting the society by respecting the diversity in our country, while the latter creates hatred and division.
Azad ruled out any differences within the party at any levels and said that there could be some differences of perceptions but not the goal. The aim is to suggest ways to strengthen the organization, in view of his experience and to promote talent in the party at various levels.
The former Chief Minister remembered those partymen who lost their lives during Covid, especially former Member Parliament Madan Lal Sharma and former Minister Mohd Sharief Niaz. He also cautioned the party leaders and workers to take all precautions against fresh Covid wave.
Earlier, Azad was accorded rousing reception at Jammu airport and later in the Congress office this evening by the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee, on his arrival from New Delhi today afternoon.
Led by JKPCC chief GA Mir, senior leaders of PCC including former Ministers/Legislators, Corporators and leaders of frontal wings, DCC presidents and DCC Urban and Rural accorded rousing reception to Azad. Amidst raising of slogans, he was welcomed in the party office by large number of senior leaders of the party.
JKPCC president presented a shawl to the visiting leader on behalf of the party as a token of respect and felicitation of his role and contribution at the national level and as Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
Azad thanked the PCC leaders for the hearty welcome at the party headquarters.
While speaking on the occasion, PCC chief GA Mir lauded the role played by Azad through out his long public life and termed him as a great ambassador of Jammu and Kashmir at the national level for over four decades.
Referring to his contributions in various capacities, Mir hoped that Azad would continue to guide the J&K Congress unit to work more vigorously for the strengthening of the party in Jammu and Kashmir, where Congress is the only hope of the people.
He referred to the historical role of Congress party, especially the special bonds of relationship of Nehru-Gandhi family with the people of Jammu and Kashmir all through from pre 1947 till date. He lauded the efforts and the role played by Azad at the time of crisis, especially since August 5, 2019 and said that people are highly appreciative of his contributions and look forward to him for his guidance and leadership.
Earlier, senior Congress leaders Mula Ram, Raman Bhalla, Ravinder Sharma, Yogesh Sawhney, Th Balwan Singh and Manmohan Singh spoke on the occasion in his honour, while prominent others present included, Taj Mohi-Ud-Din, Kanta Bhan, Rajneesh Sharma, Ashok Sharma, Shabir Ahmed Khan, Th Balbir Singh, Mohd Amin Bhat, Shah Mohd Choudhary, Ashok Dogra, Th Hari Singh Chib, Krishan Lal Bhagat, Farooq Katoch, Udhay Bhanu Chib, Gurdarshan Singh, Vinod Sharma, Suresh Dogra, Sunny Parihar (NSUI), KLGupta, HL Abrol, Vandana Sharma, Nadeem Niaz, Imran Zaffar, Corporators-Dwarka Choudhary, Ritu Choudhary, Bhanu Mahajan, Sobat Ali, Qayoom Mir (DCC Member), Pawan Raina, Shashi Sharma, Sanjeev Sharma, Thomas Khokhar, Rashid Choudhary, Kapil Singh, Rajveer Singh, Rajiv Saraf, Sahil Sharma, Dr Karan Bhagat and Ricky Dalotra.
‘G23’ leaders
in Jammu
Nearly half a dozen ‘G23’ leaders, who had opposed Sonia Gandhi’s continued presidentship of the Congress, today reached Jammu to attend ‘Shanti Sammelan’ tomorrow, which is being organized by Gandhi Global Family at Sainik Colony.
Azad, who is president of the Gandhi Global Family, has invited the ‘G23’ (known as Group of 23 who had shot off a letter to Sonia Gandhi seeking changes in the Congress) to Jammu for the function.
The ‘G23’ leaders who reached Jammu today include Bhupinder Singh Hooda, former Haryana Chief Minister, Kapil Sibal, Anand Sharma, Akhilesh Prasad Singh and Vivek Tankha, all MPs Rajya Sabha and Manish Tiwari, MP Lok Sabha besides former MP Raj Babbar.
They have been specially invited to the function to be held in Jammu tomorrow. They will return to the Union capital after the function.
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