| Cong infighting takes ugly turn, faction burns Azad’s effigy for praising PM | | JKPCC chief rushes to Delhi | |  Early Times Report
Jammu, Mar 2: Burning of effigy of the former leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress stalwart by none other own party leaders has authenticate Early Times’ report that infighting within the grand-old party would be intensified after the much publicized visit of G-23 leaders at Jammu. Congress leaders, who have personal grudge against Azad, seized this opportunity to settle score with former leader of opposition for praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, loyalists of Azad strongly defended their leader.
Newly elected member of the District Development Council (DDC), Surankot, Shahnawaz Choudhary, who is also general secretary of the J&K Congress led the protest against Azad and accused him of on Modi’s behest. He said Azad did not come to J&K for the DDC election campaign last year but praised Modi, who snatched the region’s statehood.
Shahnawaz and his supporters not only held protest against Azad but also brunt effigy of the former leader of opposition for praising Prime Minister.
“While the Congress held him in high esteem, made him a member of the Rajya Sabha six times and chief minister of J&K, he (Azad) lavished praise on Modi and has forged a friendship with the BJP” said Shahnawaz Choudhary, and accused Azad of hatching a conspiracy to weaken the Congress.
Angry workers from the Youth Congress and National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) demande Azad must clarify his remarks praising PM Modi, says JKPCC chief
Agencies
New Delhi, Mar 12: After members of the Congress burnt an effigy of senior leader Ghulam Nabi Azad to protest against his "anti-party activities" and for "praising" Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) president (JKPCC) Ghulam Ahmad Mir said that the former Rajya Sabha MP must justify his February 28 remarks hailing the PM. "What happened on February 27 should not have happened. But there still was hope that Azad Sahab was speaking for the people of Jammu and Kashmir. However, he dashed all the hopes by praising PM Modi on February 28," Mir said while speaking to news agency.
"He must clarify the context of his speech by coming in front of public. He confused the people of Jammu and Kashmir with his February 27 and February 28 speech. I myself want him to clarify this statements," he added. This comes as Azad praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G-23 event in Jammu and Kashmir on February 28, saying that he speaks frankly about his past as a tea-seller and never tried to hide his background from the world.
On February 27, he had organised 'Shanti Sammelan' event in Jammu. G-23 leaders or the group of 23 dissenting leaders, including Kapil Sibal, Anand Sharma along with former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Raj Babbar and Vivek Tankha were among other Congress leaders who were present at the event. Mir, however, called Azad a man of organisation. "So, didn't he remember that Jammu and Kashmir already has a Pradesh Congress Committee while organising an event? Didn't he think that representations of Sonia Ji, Rahul Ji, and PCC were required there?" he asked while cornering the senior party leader.
JKPCC further said that he was in New Delhi for a routine meet and had not spoken to party high command about Ghulam Nabi Azad yet.
Shahnawaz has personal grudge against Azad because it was all due to his (Azad’s) intervention that he (Shahnawaz) was denied Congress mandate from Surankote assembly seat in the year 2014. After Azad’s intervention mandate was given to Choudhary Mohammad Akram, son of Choudhary Mohammad Aslam at the eleventh hour. Choudhary Akram had won the Assembly election.
Even during DDC elections, Shahnawaz was denied Congress party and he won elections as independent candidate against official party nominee Choudhary Mohammad Akram.
While as loyalists of Azad have strong exception of the action of Shahnawaz Choudhary, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir preferred to remain neutral. “Ours is a big party and every individual analyses things as per her understanding. Shahnawaz is general secretary of the party but in a democracy, everyone has the right to express his or her opinion or resentment”, he said.
JK PCC chief rushes to Delhi
Stunned over Azad lavishing praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, PCC chief Ghulam Ahmad Mir has rushed to New Delhi to meet the top brass in Delhi, including general secretary (organisation in-charge) KC Venugopal and state in-charge Rajni Patil.
As per reports Mir told the party leadership that the state cadre was shaken by Azad’s remarks on Sunday and that political sentiments have been hurt because of it. |
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