Will float new party, visiting UT shortly
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 26: With the resignation of former Union Minister and senior All India Congress Committee leader, Ghulam Nabi Azad today, a major revolt has surfaced in J&K Congress as its 10 senior leaders including three former Ministers have tendered their resignations to AICC president, Sonia Gandhi in support of Azad.
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“Azad, a former J&K Chief Minister will float new political party shortly while more party leaders, who are said to be Azad loyalists, are likely to tender their resignations from the primary membership of the party within a day or two in support of Azad,” sources said.
Former Ministers RS Chib, Ghulam Mohd Saroori and Jugal Kishore Sharma and former MLAs Abdul Rashid Dar, Mohd Amin Bhat, Gulzar Ahmad Wani and Choudhary Mohammad Akram; former MLC Naresh Gupta and party senior leader Salman Nizami have resigned in Azad’s support so far.
“Over the years as a member of the Congress party, it has been my sincere endeavour to work for the betterment of my State- Jammu & Kashmir. I feel that in the prevailing circumstances, the Congress party has lost its momentum in contributing towards the future of my State. Keeping in view the turmoil that the State of J&K has witnessed over the past decades, the people require a decisive leader like Azad to guide them towards a better future. I feel that the Congress party has not been able to play the role that is expected of it,” Chib said in his resignation letter addressed to Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.
Saroori, former JKPCC vice president, along with several other leaders met Azad in Delhi before submitting their resignation from the party, the sources said.
“Azad is a popular leader who served Congress for the last 50 years. He is a known face across the country for his contribution towards national building,” Saroori told reporters after holding a meeting with Azad at his Delhi residence.
Saroori also uploaded a joint resignation letter on his social media account, announcing Abdul Rashid, Mohd Amin Bhat, Gulzar Ahmed Wani and Ch Mohd Akram were quitting the party.
“He (Azad) cannot stay out of politics. His services are needed in J&K and we are sure that he will be the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. People of J&K also love their leaders and are ready to give any sacrifice for him,” Saroori said, dropping enough hint that Azad is likely to float his own party.
Former MLC and senior Congress leader Subhash Gupta also tendered his resignation in support of Azad late this evening, In a letter flashed to AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, Gupta, a former District Congress Committee president Kathua said that he was resigning from all the positions being held in the party and also from the primary membership of the Congress Party.
Most of the Congress leaders, who are said to be loyal to Azad, have already reached New Delhi and are camping there. Many more left for Delhi by train late this evening.
The sources indicated that the veteran Congress leader is likely to float a new party next month as the Union Territory prepares for the first Assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Sources said that former Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand, former Minister Dr Manohar Lal Sharma and former legislator Th Balwan Singh, were also mulling to resign from the Congress party. These leaders are also considered as close confidants of Azad, the sources added.
“We, the senior party leaders, are holding a meeting in the aftermath of the new developments this evening. We will be meeting Azad sahib as well shortly,” Tara Chand said.
Meanwhile, Azad, who is in the national capital said that he would form his own party in Jammu and Kashmir soon. Azad, revealed that he would be visiting J&K soon to meet his supporters and people there.
“I will be setting up my outfit in Jammu and Kashmir soon. I will not be joining the BJP,” he said.
In his five-page resignation letter, Azad has also stated he and his colleagues will persevere to perpetuate the ideals they dedicated their entire adult lives for outside the formal fold of the Congress.
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