The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad will contest the Lok Sabha polls from Anantnag-Rajouri constituency.

The announcement was made by party treasurer Taj Mohiuddin during a press conference in Srinagar. He said that the party has decided to field Ghulam Nabi Azad as its Lok Sabha candidate from Anantnag-Rajouri seat.

On Monday, the National Conference announced that former minister and ex-legislator from Kangan, Mian Altaf will be the party candidate from this constituency.

SRINAGAR — In a significant political development, former two-time legislator Syed Basharat Bukhari is expected to formally join Ghulam Nabi Azad's Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) next week.

Talks between Bukhari and Azad have been ongoing for the past several months, with several politicians expressing interest in joining the party.

"Basharat Bukhari and other politicians have engaged in discussions with us over the past several months. The delay was due to Bukhari's aspiration to contest the North Kashmir parliamentary seat. Once he officially joins the party, which is likely to happen next week, we will determine his future political role within the DPAP," stated a source close to Azad.

Having previously severed ties with the PDP, NC, and PC, Bukhari has experienced a decline in public support within the Wagoora-Kreeri constituency. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic about his political revival upon joining the DPAP.

"Basharat shares a friendly relationship with Azad, ensuring strong support from the party leadership. He is very close to the Azad and his family," emphasized a DPAP source. "If Azad supports his candidacy for the North Kashmir parliamentary seat, there is no reason for us to oppose it," the source added.

Basharat Bukhari admitted he had met Azad recently in Delhi. "I had a meeting with Azad Sahab in Delhi. We discussed many things about J&K. Let's see what happens next," he said.

SRINAGAR — Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said that he is hopeful that the Supreme Court will pronounce the verdict on Article 370 in favour of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said the people of J&K have been waiting for more than four years for justice from the apex court. “People of J&K were waiting for the last four years for the Supreme Court to pronounce the decision on pleas challenging the decision taken on August 5, 2019 by the Government of India to abrogate the special status of J&K under Article 370 and 35(A). These rights were snatched from us before four years and people have pinned hope on SC to get justice from there,” Azad told reporters here, as per the news agency KNS.

He said the special provision was imperative for Jammu and Kashmir as it was kept intact by Maharaja Hari Singh from his times. “Maharaja Hari Singh kept this provision intact since 1925 with an aim to secure land and employment to domiciles of J&K. Later, this provision was given room in the Constitution of the country and many governments since then kept this law untouched. But unfortunately, BJP tinkered with it and abrogated on August 5, 2019,” he said.

Azad said that common people and politicians of J&K were emotionally attached with Article 370 and 35(A). He reiterated that no political party can return Article 370 and 35(A) back to Jammu and Kashmir except two revered institutions of the country – Parliament and the Supreme Court.

“I have already said that no political party can undo the decisions taken on August 5, 2019. Only Parliament or Supreme Court can return this law back to J&K. There should be 350 seats in the Parliament to restore this law,” Azad added.

He hoped and prayed that a five-member bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachod would pronounce the decision in favour of J&K on December 11.

We trust SC will uphold its constitutional principles: Muzaffar Shah

As the Supreme Court is set to announce its verdict on Monday regarding a series of petitions challenging the abrogation of Article 370 provisions in Jammu and Kashmir, senior leader and vice president of Awami National Conference, Muzaffar Shah stated on Sunday that tomorrow's proceedings are not just about a verdict but also a significant test for the Supreme Court.

In an interview with a national news channel, Shah expressed his views ahead of the constitution bench, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud, delivering its judgment on Monday, December 11, regarding the challenge to the abrogation of Article 370.

He emphasized that it's not just about the decision; it's a crucial test for the Supreme Court. Shah noted that the government de-operationalized the status of J&K by abrogating Article 370 on August 5, 2019.

"The court has to decide tomorrow whether the action was right or wrong, considering the lack of information and consent from the people. All eyes will be on the top court and its bench as it faces a significant test," he said.

"It's solely a question of whether the government's actions on August 5 were constitutionally right or wrong. We trust that the esteemed top court will uphold its constitutional principles and render a decision in favour of the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he stated.

JAMMU — In a very strange statistic, the grand old party—Congress—which draws its connection with Kashmir, seems to be ignoring its leaders from Jammu and Kashmir as none from the Union Territory figures in the party's top national team. Moreover, in the recent campaigns for Punjab by-polls and Assembly elections in Karnataka, no party leader was included in the Congress list of 80-star campaigners despite having a president, a battery of veterans and former ministers.

“It seems that the party high command is not having much faith in the local leadership of J&K,” a senior J&K Congress leader, pleading anonymity, said, adding, “It was evident during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra (held in early January) when a team from Punjab was called in to manage a large portion of the Yatra, while celebrity leaders were invited to provide momentum to the BJY.”

Moreover, as per the party sources, none of the Jammu and Kashmir natives figured in the party's national team, which is the top decision-making body in the organization.

It was the first time in the last six-seven decades when J&K was unrepresented in the national team of Congress. Earlier, stalwarts like Karan Singh, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Saif-u-Din Soz, Durga Prasad Dhar, Inder Jit Malhotra and others were part of the Congress national team and decision-making body, but after Ghulam Nabi Azad left the grand old party and parted his ways to constitute now political outfit, no one seems to represent J&K within the party.

“There were posts of 10 general secretaries, 20 PCC in-charges for different states and UTs, around 66 in-charge secretaries and around dozen joint secretaries besides the President but interestingly none of them is native of Jammu and Kashmir or Ladakh,” another party leader said.

However, on many occasions, Congress leader and former President Rahul Gandhi said that he and his family belong to Kashmiri Pandit community.

SRINAGAR — Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has claimed that the late Mufti Muhammad Sayeed misused his “generosity” to become chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir in 2002.

As per the news agency KNO, Azad in his book An Autobiography, the former CM said that he offered Mufti Muhammad Sayeed to be part of the government when he (Azad) had a letter of support from 42 MLAs to become CM.

“With the letter of support of 42 MLAs in my hand, I telephoned the Governor, and he invited me the following day to discuss the date of oath-taking. I informed Sonia ji about the developments over the telephone. She was happy to hear that I was now taking charge of government formation,” Azad claims.

“A few hours before the meeting with the Governor, around 8.00 AM, I was in the balcony of my room of Hotel Broadway in Srinagar, having tea with Ashok Bhan, a friend, Congressman and lawyer of the Supreme Court, when a thought occurred to me. Perhaps it was driven by emotion. I told Bhan that I should ask Mufti’s party to join the government. I had a long family association with him, which I had maintained even after his split with Congress. Though I did not need his backing to form the government, I believed that with him on board, the government would be even more stable and could perform better. Besides, he had been a Congressman, and his MLAs could be co-opted in the government,” the former CM claims.

Azad further says Mufti made him wait, saying he needs 3-4 days to think over the proposal. “I telephoned Mufti and informed him that I would be meeting the Governor at 11.00 AM. I suggested that his party could be part of the government and asked him to give me the names of five–six MLAs of his party who could be accommodated as ministers. He said that it was a good idea and immediately invited me for breakfast, saying that I could go to the Raj Bhavan after having breakfast with him; I readily agreed. I had breakfast with him at his residence and repeated my offer. He heard me out and said that he wanted three–four days to think it over. He suggested that I better defer my meeting with the Governor until then,” Azad says.

The former CM claims that he trusted Mufti and didn’t spot his deviousness. “I should have seen through his game plan then and gone ahead with the oath-taking; after all, his party could have joined the government later. But I trusted him implicitly and did not spot his deviousness. How was I to know that he would throw our personal relations to the wind and misuse my generosity? I met the Governor and briefed him about my talks with Mufti that morning, also informing him that I would get back to him after three–four days,” the former CM writes.

He said Mufti confirmed his participation in his government when he and Dr. Manmohan Singh, the then leader of the opposition in Rajya Sabha, met him in Srinagar. “I returned to Delhi and narrated the whole story to Sonia ji. It was decided that Dr. Manmohan Singh, then the LoP in the Rajya Sabha, and I would fly to Srinagar and meet the PDP leader to firm up his party’s inclusion in the government. The following day, Dr. Singh and I went to Srinagar and had lunch with Mufti, during which he confirmed his party’s participation in the government,” he adds.

According to Azad, Mufti got up in an agitated state during the meeting called by Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi for announcing the alliance when he was asked to give names of 5-6 names from his party who could be accommodated as ministers.

“Thereafter, Sonia ji invited Mufti to Delhi for the final announcement of the alliance. I, too, was present at the meeting. Mufti thanked the Congress president and me for agreeing to his party’s participation in the government. But when he was asked for names from his party who could be part of my government, he suddenly got up in an agitated state and exclaimed, ‘I thought that I had been invited to be the chief minister!’ Sonia ji and I were aghast and said that no such indication or assurance had been given from our side at any point of time. Mufti nearly shouted back that he had been called to Delhi to be insulted. ‘Why was I called? I could have been informed over the telephone.’ It was clear that he wanted to hijack the government,” Azad says.

He writes that he himself intervened and requested Sonia Gandhi that a power-sharing arrangement could be worked by which he would be CM for the first three years and Mufti for the next three years.

“When matters seemed to be going out of hand, I intervened and requested Sonia ji that an arrangement could be worked out by which I would be CM for the first three years and Mufti could take over for the next three years (then the J&K Government’s term was of six years). This way, everyone would be happy. However, Mufti, having got a toehold, now wanted full entry through the door. He insisted on being the CM for the first three years. Sonia ji was in no mood to relent. Again, I requested her that in the larger interest of the state, we should agree to his demand. That is how Mufti, whose party had come third in the elections, with just 16 MLAs, became the CM, while I, despite having the support of 42 MLAs, had to return to national politics,” he says.

In the 2002 elections, National Conference won 28 seats, Congress 20 seats and Peoples Democratic Party 16 seats.

ANANTNAG — Pitching for the release of religious leaders, Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday said that the incarceration of clerics plays a spoilsport and it creates doubts among the populace and dilutes the good initiatives taken by the government in Jammu and Kashmir.

Azad, who addressed a party rally in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, said that it is unfortunate that clerics who have nothing to do with the militancy are behind the bars. He said such measures on part of the government create doubts among people, though the government in Jammu and Kashmir has also taken some good initiatives.

“Sending a person to jail on mere suspicion is not a good sign for the state. I urge the government to release religious leaders and youth from the jails who have been incarcerated on flimsy grounds,” Azad said.

Recalling the days when he was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Azad said his government didn’t touch innocent people and always differentiated between a militant and a common man. “People lodged in jails on flimsy grounds should not be booked under Public Safety Act, though there should be strong laws for militants,” he said.

He appealed to political parties to get united in order to form a strong and stable government. “Division is not in the interest of people. Unity is the need of the hour and all political parties should get united,” he said.

Azad said that people have been facing multiple problems and the biggest one is unemployment.

JAMMU — Congress leader and Member Parliament Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that Bharat Jodo Yatra has largely succeeded to fight against the narrative of hatred spread across the country and bring the folks together yet again.

“Let me tell you that we have been able to bring the people across the country together yet again through Bharat Jodo Yatra. There were a lot of lessons for us in the Yatra and we have learned a lot after meeting people of various shades during our journey,” Rahul said while addressing a press conference in Jammu, as per news agency KNO.

He said that there is no scope for hatred in the country as Congress believes in spreading the message of love. “Our endeavour is to open the shops of love across J&K that has been made a scapegoat of politics,” Rahul said, adding, “Through Bharat Jodo Yatra, we have largely been able to fight the disastrous narrative of hatred spread by the BJP in the country.”

He said that the primary focus of Congress is to get Statehood and Assembly restored in J&K. Asked if Bharat Jodo Yatra was apolitical, why was he continuously targeting BJP, Rahul responded, saying that since Congress is the grand old political party, there will surely be a bit of politics in his speeches during the Yatra.

“When Kashmiri Pandits, farmers and unemployed youth would meet me during the Yatra and hope that I will definitely raise their issues, there would obviously be a problem for me if I don’t talk about them,” the Congress leader said.

He said there was not even a tinge of hatred for anybody including PM Narendra Modi. “I am not afraid of anybody so why should I have hatred for anyone,” he said.

He said J&K youth are suffering from depression and discomfort. “We are here to listen to them and understand their issues,” he said, adding that media too has been suppressed to an extent as if Yatra is not happening at all.

To a query about Lal Singh, Rahul said that Singh supported Yatra and that Congress appreciates that. “As far as Ghulam Nabi Azad is concerned, 90 percent of his supporters and party men were on our stage. I would like to tender my apology if we have hurt Azad or Lal Singh,” Rahul said.

On reports that crores are being spent for his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul said that to tarnish his image, BJP and RSS spent thousands of crores and yet didn’t succeed. “I want to tell BJP that money can’t burry the truth which has a nasty habit of come out. BJP has started to understand this reality gradually,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that Rahul-led Bharat Jodo Yatra will enter Srinagar on January 30.

JAMMU — Raking up a fresh debate over Article 370 and the reorganization of Jammu and Kashmir state, the Congress party’s chief spokesperson Jairam Ramesh on Friday said the bill passed on August 5, 2019 (Jammu Kashmir Reorganization Bill 2019) in the Parliament was not followed in a democratic way and it was ‘forcefully’ imposed.

Replying to a question during a presser in Jammu’s Kathua, Ramesh, as per the news agency KNO, said, “Revocation of Article 370 was done in an unconstitutional and undemocratic way because they (BJP) have the majority in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.”

Ramesh was speaking to media persons at a press conference at Chadwal village of Kathua district where the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra is staying for a night.

The Congress leader said that there was no discussion, no cross-examination of the bill and it was forcefully passed, as the ruling government misused its power of the absolute majority. “Jammu and Kashmir was a full-fledged state, which was degraded to union territory, and Congress party is totally against this. We demand resumption of the democratic process in J&K and the statehood status with dignity,” he said.

Ramesh further added that BJP revoked Article 370, “but in our country, our Constitution has the provision of Article 371 in many states including Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, Sikkim, some areas of states like Assam and Karnataka, with special provisions.”

He said that “our country’s Constitution is so diverse that it provides special provisions within the state but in the case of Jammu and Kashmir, it was abruptly revoked undemocratically.”

On the restoration of Article 370, he said, “You are talking about Article 370 and I am talking about Article 371. Under Article 371, many states of our country and many areas of our country are given special provisions.” He said this in reply to a question about Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti’s demand for the restoration of Article 370.

Furthermore, he said in states like Nagaland, Article 371 states that no act of Parliament would apply to the state of Nagaland in matters relating to religious or social practices of Nagas, Naga customary law and procedure, and ownership and transfer of land and its resources.

He said the Bharat Jodo Yatra is against economic inequality, social polarisation, and political dictatorship.

On Indo-Pak talks, Ramesh said, “Everybody wants to have a peaceful dialogue with Pakistan but only on the condition that they should stop terrorism. Talks and terrorism cannot go together.”

On participation of a large number of people in the Yatra despite rains, he called it a “healthy sign” in Jammu.

Ramesh also said the Congress party has invited 23 heads of national political parties to join Rahul Gandhi at the National Flag hoisting ceremony in Srinagar when the Yatra culminates at Lal Chowk on January 29-30. He said Bharat Jodo Yatra is launched with a motive to highlight increasing economic inequality, social polarisation and political dictatorship in India due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s policies.

On Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Democratic Azad Party, Ramesh said, “Azad is 100 percent B team of BJP. His party is almost finished before taking off. The ‘ranneeti’ of Modi-Shah has failed in Jammu and Kashmir.”

On the difference between the ideologies of BJP and Congress, he termed it as ‘clash of ideologies’, stating, “Congress is not only a voting machine but gave Constitution and modern India while contrary to that, BJP took the nation completely on a different path.”

He further revealed that from January 26 to March 26, Congress is launching a two-month-long ‘Haath Se Haath Jodo Abhiyan’. “During this campaign, Congress will aggressively visit door-to-door all over the country to inform people on documents ready in the shape of ‘chargesheet on Modi govt’s failure’ that will be released tomorrow at Delhi,” Ramesh.

Meanwhile, J&K Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesperson, Ravinder Sharma also thanked Dogra Swabhiman Sanghathan Party Chief, Choudhary Lal Singh for extending support to Bharat Jodo Yatra. He criticized the present government on recent target killings in the valley.

JKPCC President, Vikar Rasool Wani said, “We are thankful to people for giving a grand reception to our leader at Lakhanpur. The Yatra will reach Jammu on January 23 and the next day will start March from Nagrota.”

Thereafter, a 12-km ‘Padyatra’ will begin from Udhampur followed by a night stay at Ramban and after covering a few kilometers at Banihal, the Yatra will enter Srinagar. “Many deputations will be meeting Rahul Gandhi in both the regions and highlighting the issues of Jammu and Kashmir on which the BJP government has failed on all fronts,” Wani said.

Congress MP and incharge J&K Affairs Rajni Patil, senior leader Digvijay Singh and others too were present at the press conference. A theme song on ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ was also released in the regional Dogri language on the occasion.

Bharat Jodo Yatra started on September 7 from Kanyakumari and is expected to culminate on January 29-30 at Srinagar.

Earlier in the morning, Rahul Gandhi resumed the Yatra from Hatli Morh in Kathua district that halted at Chadwal village. Tight security arrangements are made for the Yatra while the traffic department has also issued an advisory for the vehicular movement on the highway.

SRINAGAR — Former JKPCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir on Saturday said that the doors of the Congress party are open for everyone, even for Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Mir was responding to a query about rejoining of former Dy CM Tara Chand and others who, on Friday, rejoined Congress in New Delhi.

"We welcome all those who are secular and want to work with Congress. The party has not closed its doors to anyone. Even if Ghulam Nabi Azad Ji wishes to return to the party fold, we will welcome him again," Mir said.

Mir replied that Tara Chand and others who earlier resigned from the party were "inactive" for the last seven years but the party didn't take any action. "The resignation was their own will and they joined Azad-led group. However, after observing the affairs closely, they returned back into the party which was welcomed," he said.

SRINAGAR — At least 17 leaders, who had resigned from the basic membership of the Congress and had joined former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad-led party, on Friday rejoined the party in New Delhi.

The leaders had resigned to support former chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who later formed his own party—Democratic Azad Party—which has now been renamed as Democratic Progressive Azad Party.

In a press conference held in New Delhi, the former deputy chief minister Tara Chand and former minister Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed were among the 17 leaders, who rejoined Congress today.

The leaders include Tara Chand, Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed, Balwan Singh, Advocate Muzaffar Paray, Advocate Mohinder Bhardwaj, Bhushan Dogra, Virodh Sharma, Narendra Sharma, Naresh Sharma, Amresh Mangotra, Subhash Baghat, Santosh Manhas, Badrinath Sharma, Varun Mangotra, Anuradha Sharma and Vijay Sargotra.

MP Rajya Sabha and AICC General Secretary (Organization), K C Venugopal, as per the news agency KNO, said the leaders have joined the party again. He said these leaders and people from across the country including Jammu & Kashmir have also extended their support to the Bharat Jodo Yatra.

He said that former Congress leaders have also observed that they should also extend their support to their own party and thus decided to join back.

Tara Chand, while talking to reporters during the presser, said that it is time for secular forces to join hands to defeat the ill designs on the ground. “The secular-minded people should join hands to protect the country," he said.

SRINAGAR — Former deputy chief minister Tara Chand on Thursday said that he is returning to Congress as “Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Democratic Azad Party is only dividing the secular vote.”

Talking to the news agency KNO, Tara Chand, who was deputy CM during the NC-Congress regime, said that he is likely to rejoin Congress. “I will rejoin the party. I am Congressman by birth,” he said, adding that he is holding consultation with his workers.

He said they were expelled from the group at the time when they were thinking of rejoining the party. “Most of the people would leave the party. Where is the party? It is almost non-existent and only a few people are calling shots in it,” he said.

He said that Ghulam Nabi Azad-led DAP is only dividing the secular vote.

Tara Chand and two leaders were expelled by the DAP on Thursday for their involvement in anti-party activities. This is a serious setback to Azad-led DAP which has failed to rope in leaders from parties other than Congress.

Former MLA Surankote Choudhary Muhammad Akram has already distanced himself from the Azad-led DAP.

SRINAGAR — Former veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who ended his more than five-decade-long association with the Congress in August, has launched his own new political party named 'Democratic Azad Party'.

The senior politician and former chief minister, while speaking to media persons here at Jammu, announced the name of his new party: Democratic Azad Party. He said that around 1,500 names for his new party were sent to him in different languages including Urdu and Sanskrit.

"The mix of Hindi and Urdu is 'Hindustani'. We wanted the name to be democratic, peaceful and independent," he said. "Our priority will be to register our party. Elections can take place at any time. We will continue our political activities," he said.

"We haven't consulted any other party for floating a new party. My party will have Gandhiji's ideology," the senior politician, who also unveiled the flag of the Democratic Azad Party, said. The flag has three colours - mustard, white and blue.

"Mustard colour indicates creativity and unity in diversity, white indicates peace and blue indicates freedom, open space, imagination and limits from the depths of the ocean to the heights of the sky," he said.

Azad further said that apple trucks should be prioritized like ambulances rather than halted on Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

Earlier, Azad in his first public meeting in Jammu after quitting Congress had announced to launch his own political outfit that will focus on the restoration of full statehood. He had said that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will decide the name and the flag for the party. "My party will focus on the restoration of full statehood, right to land, and employment to native domicile," he had added.

Over two dozen prominent Congress leaders including former deputy chief minister Tara Chand, several former ministers and legislators also resigned from the Congress in support of Azad.

LEH — The Congress on Saturday retained Temisgam seat in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh by defeating Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to details available with the news agency KNO, Tashi Tundup of Congress defeated BJP’s Dorjay Namgayal by 273 votes in the by-election which was necessitated after the death of a Congress councillor. While Tashi polled 861 votes, BJP’s nominee secured 588 votes.

Meanwhile, the Congress high command has congratulated its Leh unit on the victory and took potshots at former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who recently resigned from the party.

“Here is some breaking news for Modi, Shah and Azad. The Congress party has defeated the BJP by a convincing margin in the Temisgam bye-election to the Ladakh Hill Council. Congratulations to the Ladakh District Congress Committee!,” Jairam Ramesh of the Congress tweeted.

SRINAGAR — Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said that he will announce the formation of his new political party within 10 days.

Addressing a public meeting in north Kashmir's Baramulla town, Azad said that his political agenda includes restoration of statehood, land and jobs for the locals as these are achievable objectives.

"Few people have blamed me for voting in favour of the Article 370 abrogation motion brought in by the Home Minister," he said, adding that he has voted against the abrogation and these people who have no idea about the working of Parliament are saying that I voted against Article 370," he said.

"To restore Article 370 would need around 350 votes in the Lok Sabha and 175 votes in the Rajya Sabha. This is a number no political party has or is likely to ever get. The Congress has shrunken to less than 50 seats and if they speak of restoring Article 370, they are making false promises," he said.

He said that his new party will be free with independent Ideology and it will not join or merge with any other party. He futher said the emphasis will be to struggle for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood and the protection of job and land rights of its people.

Notably, this was Azad's first public meeting in Kashmir after he resigned from the basic membership of the Congress party.

On Saturday, Ghulam Nabi Azad convened an all-party meeting in Jammu and claimed that delegations from 30-35 Assembly constituencies pledged their support to him.

SRINAGAR — In a big blow to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its prominent Gujjar leader Choudhary Gulzar Ahmad Khatana has quit the party to throw his weight behind former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Gulzar, who was one of the influential PDP leaders from south Kashmir, extended his support to Ghulam Nabi Azad-led camp on Friday in presence of former minister Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed.

“He has joined our camp,” Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed told the news agency KNO.

Gulzar is the son of Nizamuddin Khatana (former MLC) and he himself was vice-chairman of Gujjar Bakerwal advisory during the PDP-BJP government with Minister of State (MoS) status. Gulzar’s wife was a candidate of PAGD from Larnoo DDC seat.

Gulzar’s exit is a big setback to Peoples Democratic Party as he is considered a serious contender for Kokernag Assembly seat after it was reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs). “It is a setback to PDP. Apart from Congress, the PDP is the major loser in Kashmir by Azad’s plans to float a new political party,” a political observer said.

According to the observer, Azad-led camp seems to be more focused on south Kashmir in the Valley. “Most of the politicians from the Valley who have joined Ghulam Nabi Azad are from south Kashmir,” he said.

So far Peerzada Muhammad Sayeed (former minister), Muhammad Amin Bhat (former MLA) and Gulzar Ahmad (Shangus) have extended their support to the Azad-led camp from south Kashmir.

With 34 per cent ST population, Kokernag seat was reserved for the community by the three-member Delimitation Commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice (retired) Ranjana Desai.

JAMMU — A day after the resignation of former Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad from Congress party, the party’s Jammu and Kashmir unit launched a scathing counter-attack and accused Azad of being in cahoots with the BJP.

Addressing a press conference at party headquarters, as per the news agency KNO, JKPCC Working President Raman Bhalla along with other senior leaders said that the party is shocked by the reason and timing of the resignation of Ghulam Nabi Azad from the Congress party.

“It was most unfortunate and most regrettable that this has happened when Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and the entire organization across the country are engaged in confronting, combating and fighting the BJP on public issues of price rise, unemployment and polarization,” Bhalla said.

He further said that Congress will not be affected by the absence of Azad but the leaders leaving will regret it. “Congress party is like a sea and leaders may come and go but it remains undisturbed. If any leader leaves the party, it may harm it temporarily but in the long run, the particular leader has to repent,” Bhalla said.

Bhalla further said that Rahul Gandhi as president is the choice of a majority of Congress workers across the country.

“Rahul Gandhi is the future of the Congress party as well as the country. He is an honest and clear-hearted leader and is well capable to lead the party from the front. The majority of leaders of JKPCC stand with Rahul Gandhi like a rock and also request him to accept the demand of thousands of Congress workers to be president of All India Congress Committee,” he said.

Several Congress leaders, including Mula Ram, Yogesh Sawhney, Th. Manmohan Singh, Hari Singh Chib, Shah Nawaz Choudhary, Uday Bhanu Chib and others were also present.

Azad has fallen into BJP’s fragmentation process: Karra

Congress Working Committee (CWC) member and former Member of Parliament, Tariq Hameed Karra on Saturday repulsed back to Ghulam Nabi Azad for targeting All India Congress Committee (AICC) Vice president, Rahul Gandhi, saying that it was he who made the proposal and passed it for Rahul's presidential post.

Karra also said that the things in Congress for Azad started changing soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that he (Azad) will not be wasted and he will soon be appointed for a special mission.

“Azad has been working independently in J&K for the past some months and raising queries over the leadership of Congress,” Karra said as per the news agency KNO while addressing a presser and that is why Azad is showing resentment only when Congress president is out for either health reasons or something else.

“Congress party for the past several months are firm to fight out the divisive forces, who are against the pluralism policy and challenge the secularism as well and have done complete polarization on Mandir, Masjid and Hindu, Muslims,” he said, adding that there was no mention of ideological differences anywhere in Azad’s resignation letter, but it was purely on personal grounds and seemingly, which indicates his differences with the ideology of the party.

“His resignation was not surprising for me as Azad was given a tearful farewell after his retirement in Rajya Sabha under a newly found bonhomie. The PM had also said that we will not get Azad wasted and he will be soon appointed for a special mission and work. Azad has been independently working in J&K and raising questions over the leadership of Congress since then,” he said.

Targeting Rahul Gandhi is contrary to the facts as it was Azad who made the entire presidential document for him and played a key role to ensure the post to Rahul Gandhi. “Even Azad had also pitched that Rahul should be given the right to choose his members on his own and appoint CWC members as well.”

Questioning the timing of Azad’s resignation, he said that what prompted him to raise questions over Rahul Gandhi in between 2013 to 2018. “If he is an ethically empowered politician, he should have resigned at that time. He had enough time to show his resentment, which he never did,” Karra said, adding, “The newly found bonhomie is very clear and it is only after that the thing starts unfolding.”

Furthermore, he said that BJP has once again succeeded in the fragmentation process by Azad’s resignation, which may be in the shape of a new political party or through facilitation.

“However, as far as Congress is concerned, Azad might have resigned from the party along with some beneficiaries from time to time, but the cadre and those who have a philosophical and ideological affinity with the party will continue to be part of the party and fight against the new fragmentation attempt,” he said.

SRINAGAR — Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who resigned from the Congress party on Friday, is all set to float a new political party in Jammu & Kashmir next month, sources said here.

Sources told the news agency KNO that Azad would launch the party in September. Azad will be launching a new political party ahead of the elections in Jammu & Kashmir.

This would be the second major new political party in Jammu and Kashmir after August 5, 2019. In 2020, businessman-turned-politician Syed Altaf Bukhari launched a new political party - J&K Apni Party.

Notably, veteran Congress leader Azad resigned from the party today citing several reasons including the taking over of the party by Rahul Gandhi and his coteries.

Following his resignation from the party, several Congress leaders and former ministers from Jammu and Kashmir also resigned from the party in his support.

RS Chib among six Azad loyalists quit Congress in J&K

Following Ghulam Nabi Azad’s decision to quit Congress, at least six former MLAs, some of them ministers in erstwhile State government, resigned from the grand old party on Friday.

While five of them tendered a joint resignation, R S Chib submitted it separately but all of them have done it in support of Azad who was the ex-Health Minister of India, former leader of Opposition in Parliament and ex-Chief Minister of J&K.

“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, Congress party has lost its momentum in contributing towards the future of my State,” Chib, a close confidant of Azad said in the letter to party president Sonia Gandhi.

“Keeping in view the turmoil that the State of J&K has witnessed over the past decades, the people require a decisive leader like Jb. Ghulam Nabi 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,” reads the letter shared to media.

“I firmly believe that there is a growing divergence between my views and the views of those at the helm of the Party affairs. In light of the same, I feel that the best course of action would be for me to part ways with your Party,” he said, adding, “Accordingly, I am tendering my resignation from the primary membership of the Indian National Congress.”

Others who tendered joint resignation include GM Saroori, Choudhary Muhammad Akram, Muhammad Amin Bhat, Gulzar Ahmad and Abdur Rashid Dar.

SRINAGAR — In a major setback for the Congress party, its senior leader and former Jammy & Kashmir chief minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday resigned from all positions including primary membership of the party.

In a letter to party President, Sonia Gandhi, Azad said, “Unfortunately, after the entry of Rahul Gandhi into politics in 2013, the entire consultative mechanism which existed earlier was demolished by him.”

The 73-year-old leader called Sonia Gandhi “nominal figurehead” and added Rahul Gandhi and his security guards and PAs were involved in taking significant decisions.

Azad was the Union Health Minister during the UPA-2 era. In June 2014, after the National Democratic Alliance won a majority in the Lok Sabha and formed the Union government, Azad was appointed as the leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

Azad’s resignation has come days after the veteran political leader resigned from the post of chairman of the Campaign Committee and Political Affairs Committee of the Jammu and Kashmir Congress hours after his appointment.

NEW DELHI — Congress party has reportedly decided to hand over the Jammu and Kashmir party affairs to former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.

Azad, as per sources, will take care of the party affairs ahead of possible Assembly elections that are reportedly slated for later this year.

Sources in the party, as per news agency Kashmir News Trust, said that Ghulam Nabi Azad attended a crucial meeting about Jammu and Kashmir party affairs in New Delhi and suggested to all the participants that they should forget about the past differences and work together to strengthen the party in Jammu and Kashmir.

After the meeting, which was chaired by General Secretary of AICC KC Venugopal, he tweeted, "The meeting of senior Congress leaders from Jammu & Kashmir was held in Delhi, to discuss party affairs and election preparedness."

Besides Azad, the meeting was attended by top leaders from Congress' J&K unit, Ambika Soni, Ghulam Ahmed Mir, Raman Bhalla, Tara Chand, Ghulam Nabi Monga, Taj Mohiuddin, GM Saroori, Abdul Rashid Dar, Muhammad Amin Bhat and Tariq Hameed.

A party leader on condition of anonymity said that either Azad or his close aide will be at the helm of affairs in the upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, although rumours are rife that Viqar Rasool may be given the charge of Congress head in erstwhile State.

“The position of the Congress party in the Jammu region is very strong due to the ‘anti-people’ policies pursued by the BJP. Besides, the emergence of the Aam Aadmi Party has also thrown a serious competition for the ruling BJP in Jammu,” he said, adding that efforts are on to make the Congress party a strong force in Jammu and Kashmir.

JAMMU — The internal bickering within Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) refuses to die down as the party has issued show-cause notices to two former legislators, who share close ties with Ghulam Nabi Azad for not attending ‘Nav Sankalap Shiver’ at Patnitop.

Sources within the Congress party told news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two separate notices were served to former MLA Vikar Rasool Wani and former MLC G N Monga for attending a private party in Srinagar instead of the party’s official programme in Patnitop.

The Congress leaders have been asked to clear their position within two weeks.

Sources said that some leaders from the Azad group camped in Srinagar and held a private lunch party.

This is not the first time that Azad and Mir group are at loggerheads. Earlier, 24 leaders including former ministers, former legislators and office bearers of the Ghulam Nabi Azad group revolted against the PCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir and resigned from their organisational posts.