News Analysis India

Tag: Ghulam Nabi Azad

  • Sat phones, special runners and more… all in place for polls in Anantnag-Rajouri

    Anantnag/Rajouri (JK): With the threat of cross-border shelling in some border areas and satellite phones and special runners in place to deal with contingencies, all is in readiness for elections in the controversially redrawn Anantnag-Rajouri constituency from where PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti is contesting. Contesting against Mehbooba Mufti, working to revive her party’s fortunes following its alliance with the BJP in 2015, in the keenly watched election on Saturday are National Conference’s Mian Altaf and 18 others.

    Elections in the last of the five seats in Jammu and Kashmir take place against the backdrop of four terror incidents, including one that claimed the life of an Indian Air Force soldier and a former BJP sarpanch.

    Nothing is being left to chance, said officials. Multi-layer security arrangements have been put in place in the constituency spread across 18 assembly segments in Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian in south Kashmir and Rajouri and Poonch districts south of Pir Panjal to ensure free, fair and peaceful polling. The Election Commission has set up 2,338 polling stations in the parliamentary constituency, which has more than 18.36 lakh voters. Four election staff, including the presiding officer, will be stationed in every polling booth. In all, more than 9,000 polling staffers, including reserves, are being deployed and have left for their stations. AllUttar PradeshMaharashtraTamil NaduWest BengalBiharKarnatakaAndhra PradeshTelanganaKeralaMadhya PradeshRajasthanDelhiOther States With 19 border polling stations along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri and Poonch, a contingency plan has been worked out to deal with cross-border shelling though chances are negligible given the ongoing ceasefire between India and Pakistan that came into effect in February 2021, officials said. Some polling stations fall in communication-shadow areas and alternative arrangements have been put in place in such areas with satellite phones, wireless sets and special runners being provided in case of a crisis. The parliamentary seat was redrawn, sparking controversy due to the geographical divide imposed by the Pir Panjal ranges. Criticism was levied against the delimitation process with Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party among others voicing concern over the methodology employed and suggesting a lack of consideration for geographical coherence. In 2019, the Anantnag constituency had a turnout of just 9.8 per cent. And so perhaps, in a marked contrast to the fervent campaigning witnessed in other constituencies, the area has seen relatively subdued rallies.

    However, the Poonch and Rajouri regions, known for high voter turnouts, have seen hectic campaigning with all parties getting their top leaders to campaign.

    Political heavyweights such as National Conference’s Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah, PDP’s Mehbooba Mufti and her daughter Iltija Mufti, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party’s Altaf Bukhari and Azad have spent considerable time in engaging with voters.

    Originally slated for May 7, the Election Commission postponed polling in Anantnag-Rajouri citing adverse weather conditions. The decision to defer voting by 18 days drew the ire of regional political factions which alleged favouritism towards the BJP-backed Apni Party candidate Zafar Manhas.

    Azad, who was initially slated to contest under the DPAP banner, has fielded Mohammad Saleem Parray, prompting speculation of strategic candidate placements possibly influenced by the BJP to fracture opposition votes.

    This Lok Sabha election, the first since Article 370 was abrogated in 2019 and the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was divided into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, is crucial for Mehbooba Mufti.

    She is grappling with internal party dissension with several former PDP members now contesting against the party. The most prominent among them perhaps is Manhas, who was earlier affiliated with the PDP.

    Amid the political manoeuvring, National Conference’s Omar Abdullah hinted at BJP support for Mehbooba Mufti in certain local pockets, a claim she chose not to address publicly.

    The unfolding developments in Anantnag-Rajouri portend a riveting electoral showdown with far-reaching implications for the region’s political landscape.

    With record-high polling in Srinagar and Baramulla, political observers feel the south Kashmir constituency will also register a higher than expected voter turnout.

    The aggregate turnout in the four Lok Sabha seats, including Udhampur and Jammu, which have already gone to polls was around 59 per cent.

    Authorities had received more than 2,200 applications from the contesting candidates and political parties, seeking permission for various electioneering activities.

    While 1,920 applications for rallies, roadshows and meetings were approved, 303 pleas were rejected on various grounds.

    The 18.36 lakh voters are enrolled in the five districts of Kulgam, Anantnag, Poonch, Shopian and Rajouri of the parliamentary constituency include 9.33 lakh men, 9.02 women and 27 third-gender voters.

    Around 18,000 differently-abled people and 540 people aged above 100 years are eligible to cast their ballots.

    Polling will be held from 7 am to 6 pm. Before that, there will be a mock poll in the presence of polling agents. Voting will continue after 6 pm if voters are found standing in queues outside polling booths.

    Seventeen polling booths (‘pink’ polling stations) will be managed by women, 15 by differently-abled people and eight by youngsters. Also, there will be 15 ‘green’ polling stations to spread the message about environment awareness.

    All the polling stations in Anantnag-Rajouri will have CCTV cameras for live webcasting to the control rooms set up at the district and CEO office. The cameras will be positioned in such a way so that they do not violate the secrecy of vote.

  • New Parliament idea mooted by Narasimha Rao, good that it has been constructed: Ghulam Nabi Azad

    By ANI

    JAMMU: Asserting that the construction of a new Parliament building was necessary, Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that it is good that it has been constructed but the idea was mooted when PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister.

    He further refrained from commenting on the issue of which political party would be attending or boycotting the inauguration event of the new Parliament building.

    “This is a technical issue. Parliamentarians who want to boycott this event or want to attend it is up to them. It is their point of view on how they want to perceive this event. Those parliamentarians will have to explain the reasons why they are boycotting the event. I don’t want to comment on who will be attending or boycotting the inauguration event,” Azad, Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief, told to ANI.

    He also recalled the conversation related to the need for a new Parliament building between him and then Speaker Shivraj Patil when PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister.

    “At the time when PV Narasimha Rao was the PM, Shivraj Patil was the Speaker and I was the Parliamentary Affairs minister, Shivraj ji had said to me that a new and bigger Parliament building should be constructed before 2026. The construction of a new building was necessary, it’s good that it has been constructed now,” he said.

    In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi said, “Not getting the President to inaugurate the Parliament nor invite her to the ceremony is an insult to the country’s highest constitutional post. Parliament is not made of bricks of ego but of constitutional values.”

    Congress and eighteen other opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament Building and stated that it “insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution”.

    READ HERE | 19 opposition parties to boycott new Parliament building inauguration

    In a joint statement, the like-minded opposition parties said that Prime Minister’s decision to inaugurate the building by himself is “a direct assault on our democracy, which demands a commensurate response.” The new Parliament building will be inaugurated on May 28.

    “When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building. We will continue to fight — in letter, in spirit, and in substance — against this authoritarian Prime Minister and his government, and take our message directly to the people of India,” the statement said.

    The nineteen opposition parties who will boycott the inauguration are – Congress, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, TMC, Janta Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), RJD, Indian Union Muslim League, National Conference, Communist Party of India, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress (Mani), Vidhuthalai Chirunthaigal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Revolutionary, Socialist Party and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

    The statement said that the inauguration of a new Parliament building is a momentous occasion.

    “Despite our belief that the government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion. However, Prime Minister Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response,” it said.

    The opposition parties said that Article 79 of the Constitution states that there shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.

    “The President is not only the Head of State in India but also an integral part of the Parliament. She summons, prorogues, and addresses the Parliament. She must assent for an Act of Parliament to take effect. In short, the Parliament cannot function without the President. Yet, the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament building without her. This undignified act insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman Adivasi President,” the statement said.

    The statement alleged that the ruling party at the Centre has sought to suppress the voice of opposition parties in Parliament.

    “Undemocratic acts are not new to the Prime Minister, who has relentlessly hollowed out the Parliament. Opposition Members of Parliament have been disqualified, suspended and muted when they raised the issues of the people of India. MPs from the Treasury benches have disrupted Parliament. Many controversial legislations, including the three farm laws, have been passed with almost no debate, and Parliamentary Committees have been practically made defunct,” the statement said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building on December 10, 2020. It has been built in record time with quality construction.

    In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha and 250 in the Rajya Sabha. Keeping in view the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both Houses will be held in the Lok Sabha chamber. 

    JAMMU: Asserting that the construction of a new Parliament building was necessary, Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said that it is good that it has been constructed but the idea was mooted when PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister.

    He further refrained from commenting on the issue of which political party would be attending or boycotting the inauguration event of the new Parliament building.

    “This is a technical issue. Parliamentarians who want to boycott this event or want to attend it is up to them. It is their point of view on how they want to perceive this event. Those parliamentarians will have to explain the reasons why they are boycotting the event. I don’t want to comment on who will be attending or boycotting the inauguration event,” Azad, Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief, told to ANI.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    He also recalled the conversation related to the need for a new Parliament building between him and then Speaker Shivraj Patil when PV Narasimha Rao was the Prime Minister.

    “At the time when PV Narasimha Rao was the PM, Shivraj Patil was the Speaker and I was the Parliamentary Affairs minister, Shivraj ji had said to me that a new and bigger Parliament building should be constructed before 2026. The construction of a new building was necessary, it’s good that it has been constructed now,” he said.

    In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi said, “Not getting the President to inaugurate the Parliament nor invite her to the ceremony is an insult to the country’s highest constitutional post. Parliament is not made of bricks of ego but of constitutional values.”

    Congress and eighteen other opposition parties have decided to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament Building and stated that it “insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution”.

    READ HERE | 19 opposition parties to boycott new Parliament building inauguration

    In a joint statement, the like-minded opposition parties said that Prime Minister’s decision to inaugurate the building by himself is “a direct assault on our democracy, which demands a commensurate response.” The new Parliament building will be inaugurated on May 28.

    “When the soul of democracy has been sucked out from the Parliament, we find no value in a new building. We announce our collective decision to boycott the inauguration of the new Parliament building. We will continue to fight — in letter, in spirit, and in substance — against this authoritarian Prime Minister and his government, and take our message directly to the people of India,” the statement said.

    The nineteen opposition parties who will boycott the inauguration are – Congress, DMK, Aam Aadmi Party, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party, TMC, Janta Dal (United), Nationalist Congress Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), RJD, Indian Union Muslim League, National Conference, Communist Party of India, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Kerala Congress (Mani), Vidhuthalai Chirunthaigal Katchi, Rashtriya Lok Dal, Revolutionary, Socialist Party and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

    The statement said that the inauguration of a new Parliament building is a momentous occasion.

    “Despite our belief that the government is threatening democracy, and our disapproval of the autocratic manner in which the new Parliament was built, we were open to sinking our differences and marking this occasion. However, Prime Minister Modi’s decision to inaugurate the new Parliament building by himself, completely sidelining President Murmu, is not only a grave insult but a direct assault on our democracy which demands a commensurate response,” it said.

    The opposition parties said that Article 79 of the Constitution states that there shall be a Parliament for the Union which shall consist of the President and two Houses to be known respectively as the Council of States and the House of the People.

    “The President is not only the Head of State in India but also an integral part of the Parliament. She summons, prorogues, and addresses the Parliament. She must assent for an Act of Parliament to take effect. In short, the Parliament cannot function without the President. Yet, the Prime Minister has decided to inaugurate the new Parliament building without her. This undignified act insults the high office of the President, and violates the letter and spirit of the Constitution. It undermines the spirit of inclusion which saw the nation celebrate its first woman Adivasi President,” the statement said.

    The statement alleged that the ruling party at the Centre has sought to suppress the voice of opposition parties in Parliament.

    “Undemocratic acts are not new to the Prime Minister, who has relentlessly hollowed out the Parliament. Opposition Members of Parliament have been disqualified, suspended and muted when they raised the issues of the people of India. MPs from the Treasury benches have disrupted Parliament. Many controversial legislations, including the three farm laws, have been passed with almost no debate, and Parliamentary Committees have been practically made defunct,” the statement said.Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament Building on December 10, 2020. It has been built in record time with quality construction.

    In the present building of the Parliament, there is a provision for the sitting of 543 Members in the Lok Sabha and 250 in the Rajya Sabha. Keeping in view the future requirements, arrangements have been made for a meeting of 888 members in the Lok Sabha and 384 members in the Rajya Sabha in the newly constructed building of the Parliament. The joint session of both Houses will be held in the Lok Sabha chamber. 

  • Anti-encroachment drive poses threat of return of ‘hartal and stone-pelting’ culture: Azad 

    The eviction drive has resulted in corruption as people were paying bribes to revenue officials to ensure their names do not feature among those who have encroached on state land, he alleged.

  • First signs of dissension in Ghulam Nabi Azad’s DAP, 3 leaders including ex-Dy CM expelled from party

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: The first signs of dissension have emerged in the newly launched Democratic Azad Party (DAP) with the party chief and former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday expelling three founding members of the newly floated party including former Deputy Chief Minister. 

    Azad, who is DAP chairman, today expelled three leaders – Tara Chand, Dr Manohar Lal and Balwan Singh – from the party with immediate effect for anti-party activities.

    The three expelled leaders, who were Azad loyalists, were founding members of the DAP, which was launched by Azad on September 26 this year after breaking away from Congress a month earlier.

    The three were former MLAs with Tara Chand being the former deputy chief minister.

    Surprisingly, a week back, Azad had announced office bearers of the party and appointed Tara Chand as vice chairman and Manohar Lal Sharma and Balwan Singh as general secretaries.

    Talking to this newspaper, DAP general secretary Rajinder Singh Chib said the party chief was convinced that the trio was involved in anti-party activities and hobnobbing with other parties.

    “They were told to mend their ways and give up anti-party activities. But they were not coming out with any solid reason to justify their activities. Even after being given party positions, they were not functioning within the expectation of the party,” he said.

    One of the expelled leaders and former J&K DyCM Tara Chand told this newspaper that they were not involved in anti-party activities. “I had a long association with Azad. After he resigned from Congress, we decided to join him because it was a tough time for him and he had been alone,” he said.

    “We told Azad that secular forces in J&K are getting divided and this is not good for J&K. We told him that we should consolidate secular forces and work together. While our talks were going on, we were expelled,” he said adding, “We have been always loyalists and never betrayed him.”

    Asked about his future plans, Tara said, “When we resigned from Congress and joined DAP, we were a group of 64 leaders including former ministers and ex-MLAs and MLCs and senior leaders.”

    “A large group of leaders is with us now. We will sit together and decide our future strategy,” he said, ruling out the possibility of joining the BJP.

    It is expected that Tara Chand along with his group may rejoin Congress.

    Earlier, former Congress MLA Surankote Choudhary Muhammad Akram, who had joined DAP at the time of his launch, had already distanced himself from the newly floated party.

    SRINAGAR: The first signs of dissension have emerged in the newly launched Democratic Azad Party (DAP) with the party chief and former J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday expelling three founding members of the newly floated party including former Deputy Chief Minister. 

    Azad, who is DAP chairman, today expelled three leaders – Tara Chand, Dr Manohar Lal and Balwan Singh – from the party with immediate effect for anti-party activities.

    The three expelled leaders, who were Azad loyalists, were founding members of the DAP, which was launched by Azad on September 26 this year after breaking away from Congress a month earlier.

    The three were former MLAs with Tara Chand being the former deputy chief minister.

    Surprisingly, a week back, Azad had announced office bearers of the party and appointed Tara Chand as vice chairman and Manohar Lal Sharma and Balwan Singh as general secretaries.

    Talking to this newspaper, DAP general secretary Rajinder Singh Chib said the party chief was convinced that the trio was involved in anti-party activities and hobnobbing with other parties.

    “They were told to mend their ways and give up anti-party activities. But they were not coming out with any solid reason to justify their activities. Even after being given party positions, they were not functioning within the expectation of the party,” he said.

    One of the expelled leaders and former J&K DyCM Tara Chand told this newspaper that they were not involved in anti-party activities. “I had a long association with Azad. After he resigned from Congress, we decided to join him because it was a tough time for him and he had been alone,” he said.

    “We told Azad that secular forces in J&K are getting divided and this is not good for J&K. We told him that we should consolidate secular forces and work together. While our talks were going on, we were expelled,” he said adding, “We have been always loyalists and never betrayed him.”

    Asked about his future plans, Tara said, “When we resigned from Congress and joined DAP, we were a group of 64 leaders including former ministers and ex-MLAs and MLCs and senior leaders.”

    “A large group of leaders is with us now. We will sit together and decide our future strategy,” he said, ruling out the possibility of joining the BJP.

    It is expected that Tara Chand along with his group may rejoin Congress.

    Earlier, former Congress MLA Surankote Choudhary Muhammad Akram, who had joined DAP at the time of his launch, had already distanced himself from the newly floated party.

  • Two months after quitting, Ghulam Nabi Azad now praises Congress

    By IANS

    SRINAGAR: Is former senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad dangling an olive branch to the Congress from whose basic membership he resigned on August 26 this year?

    Azad subsequently formed his own political party, Democratic Azad Party which he said would contest the forthcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Surprising his supporters who followed him by resigning from the Congress, Azad on Sunday said that the Congress alone has the capacity to challenge the BJP in Gujarat and Himachal assembly elections.

    He said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is just a party restricted to the Union Territory of Delhi.

    Talking to some reporters during his visit to Doda district, Azad praised the Congress for its secularism and said that he was only against the Congress’ weak party system.

    He also made it clear that he was never against the Congress policy of secularism.

    “I would still want the Congress to win Gujarat and Himachal assembly elections,” he said.

    Surprisingly, Azad showed his confidence in the Congress saying that it takes along Hindu and Muslim farmers.

    While praising the Congress, the party’s former senior leader was highly critical of AAP.

    “AAP has failed in Punjab. It can’t do anything in these states and the people of Punjab will not vote for AAP again. Only Congress can run Punjab efficiently. It is the only party that can challenge the BJP in Gujarat and Himachal. AAP is a party that merely exists in Delhi UT. Congress has an inclusive policy,” he said making it difficult for many to decide whether the former senior leader had mellowed down toward the party that he said two months back had completely ignored and over-ruled him.

    He had even said that all the decisions taken by Rahul Gandhi were being taken by his security guards.

    On August 26 this year, Azad had ended his decades-long association with the Congress after sending his resignation leader to Sonia Gandhi in which he was highly critical of Rahul Gandhi’s handling of the party affairs.

    SRINAGAR: Is former senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad dangling an olive branch to the Congress from whose basic membership he resigned on August 26 this year?

    Azad subsequently formed his own political party, Democratic Azad Party which he said would contest the forthcoming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Surprising his supporters who followed him by resigning from the Congress, Azad on Sunday said that the Congress alone has the capacity to challenge the BJP in Gujarat and Himachal assembly elections.

    He said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is just a party restricted to the Union Territory of Delhi.

    Talking to some reporters during his visit to Doda district, Azad praised the Congress for its secularism and said that he was only against the Congress’ weak party system.

    He also made it clear that he was never against the Congress policy of secularism.

    “I would still want the Congress to win Gujarat and Himachal assembly elections,” he said.

    Surprisingly, Azad showed his confidence in the Congress saying that it takes along Hindu and Muslim farmers.

    While praising the Congress, the party’s former senior leader was highly critical of AAP.

    “AAP has failed in Punjab. It can’t do anything in these states and the people of Punjab will not vote for AAP again. Only Congress can run Punjab efficiently. It is the only party that can challenge the BJP in Gujarat and Himachal. AAP is a party that merely exists in Delhi UT. Congress has an inclusive policy,” he said making it difficult for many to decide whether the former senior leader had mellowed down toward the party that he said two months back had completely ignored and over-ruled him.

    He had even said that all the decisions taken by Rahul Gandhi were being taken by his security guards.

    On August 26 this year, Azad had ended his decades-long association with the Congress after sending his resignation leader to Sonia Gandhi in which he was highly critical of Rahul Gandhi’s handling of the party affairs.

  •  PM Modi can restore Art 370 but I can’t convince him to restore it: Azad

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR: Former Congress leader and ex-J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi can restore Article 370 but he cannot convince him of its restoration.

    “I never said Article 370 cannot be restored. PM Modi can restore Article 370 as he withdrew farm laws.  The farm laws were not withdrawn by the opposition but by PM Modi, whose party has got a majority in the parliament,” Azad told reporters in Srinagar.

    He, however, said he cannot convince Modi to restore Article 370.

    “If any leader from J&K claims that he can convince PM Modi or his cabinet but I cannot convince him on Article 370 restoration. Either PM Modi can restore it on his own or 2/3rd majority is needed for its restoration,” the former J&K Chief Minister said.

    In his first rally in north Kashmir’s Baramulla on Sunday after quitting Congress, Azad said it was unlikely that Article 370 would be restored as 2/3rd majority was needed in the parliament and the opposition was unable to get it.

    After his remarks on Article 370, J&K Congress leaders accused Azad of being a BJP’s man and PM Modi’s advocate in J&K with an agenda to divide secular votes to benefit the saffron party.

    On August 5, 2019 centre scrapped J&K’s special status and bifurcated J&K state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).

    Azad said after Article 370 was repealed, petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging its abrogation. “Three years have passed by and not a single hearing has taken place yet”.

    “No date has been given when it will be put for hearing. When the date is given, we don’t know how long the hearings will continue. We don’t know on whose favour the court will give its verdict,” he said adding “Can any leader claim that he will get a favourable judgement from the Supreme Court. No”.

    “I don’t want to deceive people and don’t want to keep them under false hope. Whether people vote for me or not, I will never give a slogan which is not in my hand,” the former Congress leader.    

    On the accusation that he was playing second fiddle to BJP in J&K, Azad said it was not him but some Congress leaders, who were helping the BJP in achieving Congress-mukt Bharat.

    SRINAGAR: Former Congress leader and ex-J&K Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi can restore Article 370 but he cannot convince him of its restoration.

    “I never said Article 370 cannot be restored. PM Modi can restore Article 370 as he withdrew farm laws.  The farm laws were not withdrawn by the opposition but by PM Modi, whose party has got a majority in the parliament,” Azad told reporters in Srinagar.

    He, however, said he cannot convince Modi to restore Article 370.

    “If any leader from J&K claims that he can convince PM Modi or his cabinet but I cannot convince him on Article 370 restoration. Either PM Modi can restore it on his own or 2/3rd majority is needed for its restoration,” the former J&K Chief Minister said.

    In his first rally in north Kashmir’s Baramulla on Sunday after quitting Congress, Azad said it was unlikely that Article 370 would be restored as 2/3rd majority was needed in the parliament and the opposition was unable to get it.

    After his remarks on Article 370, J&K Congress leaders accused Azad of being a BJP’s man and PM Modi’s advocate in J&K with an agenda to divide secular votes to benefit the saffron party.

    On August 5, 2019 centre scrapped J&K’s special status and bifurcated J&K state into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir (with legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).

    Azad said after Article 370 was repealed, petitions were filed in the Supreme Court challenging its abrogation. “Three years have passed by and not a single hearing has taken place yet”.

    “No date has been given when it will be put for hearing. When the date is given, we don’t know how long the hearings will continue. We don’t know on whose favour the court will give its verdict,” he said adding “Can any leader claim that he will get a favourable judgement from the Supreme Court. No”.

    “I don’t want to deceive people and don’t want to keep them under false hope. Whether people vote for me or not, I will never give a slogan which is not in my hand,” the former Congress leader.    

    On the accusation that he was playing second fiddle to BJP in J&K, Azad said it was not him but some Congress leaders, who were helping the BJP in achieving Congress-mukt Bharat.

  • Ghulam Nabi Azad to hold his first public meeting after leaving Congress; set to launch new party

    By ANI

    JAMMU (Jammu and Kashmir): Former Union Minister and senior ex-Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the party recently, will hold a public meeting today at Sainik Colony in Jammu.

    He left for Jammu to hold the public meeting on Sunday morning which is scheduled for 11 am.

    This will be his first meeting since he snapped his nearly 50-year-long association with Congress. Azad has said that he will launch a new party soon and the first unit will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir in view of impending assembly polls. Azad has been Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2005 to 2008.

    Notably, Rahul Gandhi and a string of party leaders will also hold a ‘Mehangai Par Halla Bol’ rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi today.

    With Azad signalling that he will float a new party, several leaders have resigned from the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand are among 64 leaders who have resigned from the Congress.

    WATCH |

    Over 36 Congress leaders including leaders of the National Students’ Union of India, the youth wing of the Congress party, from various universities in Jammu have submitted their resignations in solidarity with Azad.

    According to sources, the leaders submitted their resignations to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi.The General Secretary of NSUI-J&K unit, Manik Sharma in his resignation letter said, “I support resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad from Congress party. I am fed up with the favouritism in the party. The work of ground-level workers doesn’t matter in the party. This is the reason why we failed in 90 per cent of the elections.”

    In his resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi, Azad had targeted party leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi, over the way the party has been run in the past nearly nine years.

    In the hard-hitting five-page letter, Azad had claimed that a coterie runs the party while Sonia Gandhi was just “a nominal head” and all the major decisions were taken by “Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards and PAs”.

    ALSO READ | Key points from Ghulam Nabi Azad’s letter of resignation from Congress

    Azad had said he was submitting his resignation with “great regret and an extremely leaden heart” and severing his 50-year association with the Congress. He was earlier Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

    Recounting his long association with the Congress, Azad had said the situation in the party has reached a point of “no return.”

    While Azad took potshots at Sonia Gandhi in the letter, his sharpest attack was on Rahul Gandhi and he described the Wayand MP as “non-serious individual” and “immature”. 

    JAMMU (Jammu and Kashmir): Former Union Minister and senior ex-Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the party recently, will hold a public meeting today at Sainik Colony in Jammu.

    He left for Jammu to hold the public meeting on Sunday morning which is scheduled for 11 am.

    This will be his first meeting since he snapped his nearly 50-year-long association with Congress. Azad has said that he will launch a new party soon and the first unit will be formed in Jammu and Kashmir in view of impending assembly polls. Azad has been Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir from 2005 to 2008.

    Notably, Rahul Gandhi and a string of party leaders will also hold a ‘Mehangai Par Halla Bol’ rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi today.

    With Azad signalling that he will float a new party, several leaders have resigned from the Congress in Jammu and Kashmir.

    Former Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand are among 64 leaders who have resigned from the Congress.

    WATCH |

    Over 36 Congress leaders including leaders of the National Students’ Union of India, the youth wing of the Congress party, from various universities in Jammu have submitted their resignations in solidarity with Azad.

    According to sources, the leaders submitted their resignations to Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi.The General Secretary of NSUI-J&K unit, Manik Sharma in his resignation letter said, “I support resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad from Congress party. I am fed up with the favouritism in the party. The work of ground-level workers doesn’t matter in the party. This is the reason why we failed in 90 per cent of the elections.”

    In his resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi, Azad had targeted party leadership, particularly Rahul Gandhi, over the way the party has been run in the past nearly nine years.

    In the hard-hitting five-page letter, Azad had claimed that a coterie runs the party while Sonia Gandhi was just “a nominal head” and all the major decisions were taken by “Rahul Gandhi or rather worse his security guards and PAs”.

    ALSO READ | Key points from Ghulam Nabi Azad’s letter of resignation from Congress

    Azad had said he was submitting his resignation with “great regret and an extremely leaden heart” and severing his 50-year association with the Congress. He was earlier Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha.

    Recounting his long association with the Congress, Azad had said the situation in the party has reached a point of “no return.”

    While Azad took potshots at Sonia Gandhi in the letter, his sharpest attack was on Rahul Gandhi and he described the Wayand MP as “non-serious individual” and “immature”. 

  • ‘Hooda meeting Azad disheartens party rank and file’: Selja writes to high command

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Raising strong concerns over former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda meeting Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the party blaming its leadership, senior Congress leader Kumari Selja has said the move confuses and disheartens the party rank and file.

    Selja, a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former president of the party’s Haryana unit, is learnt to have lodged a complaint against Hooda, also the Leader of Opposition in the state, with the party high command and also demanded a show cause notice against him.

    Apart from Hooda, two other members of the G-23 Anand Sharma and Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday met Azad at his Delhi residence, days after the leader from Jammu and Kashmir resigned from the party, blaming its leadership.

    Selja has raised the matter with some senior party leaders, including All India Congress Committee Haryana in-charge Vivek Bansal.

    When asked for a comment, Selja told PTI over the phone on Thursday, “I have said that Mr Hooda going there and meeting Mr Azad when he has left the party, blamed the leadership and even made personal comments against our leaders, disheartens the party rank and file and also confuses them”.

    “He (Azad) has chosen a path and left the party. But once the die is cast, the person has left the party and has already announced floating his own party, what is the point of him (Hooda’s) going to his Azad’s house,” she sought to know.

    Selja, considered Hooda’s bete noire, is also learnt to have told the party high command that such a development was not acceptable even though the former Haryana chief minister had been given a free hand in running the affairs of the Congress’ state unit.

    Hooda is among the G-23 leaders who had in a letter to the Congress president in August 2020 sought an organisational overhaul and elections at all levels.

    He, along with Sharma and Chavan are learnt to have held discussions with Azad regarding the G-23’s future strategy.

    The Congress had in April revamped its Haryana unit, appointing former legislator and Hooda loyalist Udai Bhan as its president, replacing Selja, who was later made a CWC member.

    As part of the reorganisation, the party had also appointed four working presidents.

    Hooda’s son Deepender Singh Hooda is a Rajya Sabha MP.

    CHANDIGARH: Raising strong concerns over former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda meeting Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the party blaming its leadership, senior Congress leader Kumari Selja has said the move confuses and disheartens the party rank and file.

    Selja, a Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former president of the party’s Haryana unit, is learnt to have lodged a complaint against Hooda, also the Leader of Opposition in the state, with the party high command and also demanded a show cause notice against him.

    Apart from Hooda, two other members of the G-23 Anand Sharma and Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday met Azad at his Delhi residence, days after the leader from Jammu and Kashmir resigned from the party, blaming its leadership.

    Selja has raised the matter with some senior party leaders, including All India Congress Committee Haryana in-charge Vivek Bansal.

    When asked for a comment, Selja told PTI over the phone on Thursday, “I have said that Mr Hooda going there and meeting Mr Azad when he has left the party, blamed the leadership and even made personal comments against our leaders, disheartens the party rank and file and also confuses them”.

    “He (Azad) has chosen a path and left the party. But once the die is cast, the person has left the party and has already announced floating his own party, what is the point of him (Hooda’s) going to his Azad’s house,” she sought to know.

    Selja, considered Hooda’s bete noire, is also learnt to have told the party high command that such a development was not acceptable even though the former Haryana chief minister had been given a free hand in running the affairs of the Congress’ state unit.

    Hooda is among the G-23 leaders who had in a letter to the Congress president in August 2020 sought an organisational overhaul and elections at all levels.

    He, along with Sharma and Chavan are learnt to have held discussions with Azad regarding the G-23’s future strategy.

    The Congress had in April revamped its Haryana unit, appointing former legislator and Hooda loyalist Udai Bhan as its president, replacing Selja, who was later made a CWC member.

    As part of the reorganisation, the party had also appointed four working presidents.

    Hooda’s son Deepender Singh Hooda is a Rajya Sabha MP.

  • ‘Tharoor contemplating contesting for Congress chief’s post, to take final call soon’: Sources

    While Tharoor declined to comment on whether he would throw his hat into the ring, he has written an article for the Malayalam daily Mathrubhumi in which he called for a 'free and fair' election.

  • Congress needs medicines more than wishes, party leadership has no time for setting things right: Azad

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Launching a fresh attack on the Congress, its former leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday said the party needs medicines for treating it which are being provided by compounders instead of doctors.

    Azad also accused the leadership of not having time for setting the organisation right.

    Speaking to reporters at his residence, Azad who quit the party on Friday last, alleged that the leaders being projected in the party in states are making party members leave instead of uniting them.

    He also said that he will not join the BJP as it will not help his politics in Jammu and Kashmir and that he would soon set up a new party there as assembly elections could be announced anytime.

    OPINION | Ghulam Nabi Azad: The inside man and the exit door

    “I give my best wishes to the Congress, but the party needs medicines more than wishes. And, these medicines are being provided to the Congress by compounders instead of doctors,” he told reporters.

    “The party leadership has no time for setting things right in the party. The leaders promoted in states are making people quit the organisation rather than uniting them with the party,” Azad also said while attacking the party leadership.

    He said the party’s foundation has turned very weak and the organisation can fall anytime and that is why he along with some leaders decided to quit it.

    Azad also questioned the DNA of those who questioned him and accused those leaders in the Congress of conspiring and “planting news” against party leaders and thus weakening the organisation.

    ALSO READ | Azad exit likely to benefit BJP in upcoming Jammu and Kashmir polls

    NEW DELHI: Launching a fresh attack on the Congress, its former leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday said the party needs medicines for treating it which are being provided by compounders instead of doctors.

    Azad also accused the leadership of not having time for setting the organisation right.

    Speaking to reporters at his residence, Azad who quit the party on Friday last, alleged that the leaders being projected in the party in states are making party members leave instead of uniting them.

    He also said that he will not join the BJP as it will not help his politics in Jammu and Kashmir and that he would soon set up a new party there as assembly elections could be announced anytime.

    OPINION | Ghulam Nabi Azad: The inside man and the exit door

    “I give my best wishes to the Congress, but the party needs medicines more than wishes. And, these medicines are being provided to the Congress by compounders instead of doctors,” he told reporters.

    “The party leadership has no time for setting things right in the party. The leaders promoted in states are making people quit the organisation rather than uniting them with the party,” Azad also said while attacking the party leadership.

    He said the party’s foundation has turned very weak and the organisation can fall anytime and that is why he along with some leaders decided to quit it.

    Azad also questioned the DNA of those who questioned him and accused those leaders in the Congress of conspiring and “planting news” against party leaders and thus weakening the organisation.

    ALSO READ | Azad exit likely to benefit BJP in upcoming Jammu and Kashmir polls