It is home coming’ for all: Venugopal
Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Jan 6: Former J&K Dy Chief Minister, Tara Chand, former JKPCC chief Peerzada Mohammed Sayeed, two former Legislators- Muzaffar Parray and Balwan Singh among 17 former Democratic Azad Party (DAP) leaders today returned to the Congress fold and were welcomed back by the party which said they were on a ‘leave of two months’.
AICC general secretary (Organisation), KC Venugopal along with party general secretaries Jai Ram Ramesh and Rajni Patil (I/C J&K Cong Affairs) welcomed these leaders, saying it was a happy day for the party as they were returning to their home ahead of the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ which will enter Jammu and Kashmir after two weeks.
“The Bharat Jodo Yatra has become a big movement in the country and that is why all these leaders have decided to come back to the Congress fold,” he told media-persons.
“This is only a beginning and when the Yatra will enter Jammu and Kashmir, all people with Congress ideology and who want a united India, may join the party. I think, they had gone on a leave for two months,” Venugopal added.
Asked whether there are any talks with DAP chairman, Ghulam Nabi Azad to return to the Congress fold, Venugopal said he has himself denied any such talks.
On whether Azad has been invited for the Yatra, he said, “Those who believe in the Congress ideology are welcome to join the Bharat Jodo Yatra.”
“We have invited all like-minded parties to join the Yatra,” he said, adding that Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti will join the Yatra and walk with Rahul Gandhi in Srinagar.
Senior party leader Jairam Ramesh said, “A total of 19 leaders were to join today, but 17 were able to come to Delhi and join today. This is the first phase and others will also join soon”.
Asked about the reasons to quit the Congress, Tara Chand said, “We got carried away by emotions and friendship and quit the party in haste”.
On why they rejoined, he said, “We were not comfortable in DAP as we have spent over 40-50 years of our life in the Congress and realised our mistake”.
Peerzada said there is need to strengthen and unite all secular forces in Jammu and Kashmir, where terrorism has increased instead of decreasing in the last eight years.
Though former Minister Dr Manohar Lal Sharmawas also expected to join Cong today, but sources close to him indicated that he may join along with his supporters during Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi to J&K. Dr Sharma, however, claimed that he will take a final decision in this regard after consulting his people and supporters in near future.
It may be recalled that one time loyalists of Ghulam Nabi Azad- Tara Chand, Bhalwan Singh and Dr Manohar Lal were expelled by Azad from DAP on Dec 22, 2022 on the charges of anti-party activities and hobnobbing with Congress leaders. However, former PCC chief Peerzada Mohd Sayeed, senior party leader and J&K High Court Bar Association president M K Bhardwaj, ex-MLC Muzaffar Parray, Narinder Sharma former DAP general secretary, Vinod Sharma and others left the party in support of expelled leaders.
Naresh Sharma, former Chairman Municipal Committee Kathua, Ambrish (Ashu) Magotra, former Chairman Municipal Committee Katra Mata Vaishnodevi, Subhash Bhagat, Bhushan Dogra, Santosh Manhas, Anuradha Sharma, Chander Prabha, Badri Nath, Varun Magotra and Vijay Tagotra among others also rejoined Congress today.
AICC chief spokesperson Pawan Khera, JKPCC president, Vikar Rasool Wani working president, Raman Bhalla were also present on the occasion.
Later, these leaders led by Rajni Patil and JKPCC chief, Vikar Rasool Wani called on AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence this evening. The AICC president welcomed these leaders into the party fold and asked them to strengthen the party in their respective areas. He also termed their rejoining as ‘home coming’.
Wani during 30-minute meeting with the Congress president, briefed him on the party activities, present political scenario in J&K and preparations made for the Bharat Jodo Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir. These leaders are returning to J&K tomorrow.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
