 Early Times Report
jammu, Mar 16: With Prime Minister, Narendra Modi having spoken high about former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, talks between the veteran Congress leader and his counterpart from the National Conference, Dr Farooq Abdullah are on the cards.
Sources said a lobby in New Delhi close to both the leaders is of the opinion that Dr Abdullah and Azad should hold talks with regard to Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources said the Bharatiya Janta Party is "comfortable to negotiate" any political demand on Jammu and Kashmir like the restoration of statehood if it comes through leaders like Azad who is "known for his nationalist outlook since day one."
Sources said the lobby close to the regional parties based in Kashmir believe that Azad can prove a "game-changer in speedy realization of their demands and thus be helpful even for holding early polls."
Sources said the talks between Azad and Abdullah are likely to take place in the summer capital in the coming days.
Sources said the talks would focus mainly on demand for restoration of the statehood and early Assembly elections.
It is pertinent to mention that on February 9, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi got emotional in Parliament as he bid farewell to veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad and said that his legacy in national politics will be hard to replace.
"As a leader of the opposition, it's easy to engage in party politics, but Ghulam Nabi Azad Ji rose above this and always prioritised the prosperity of the country first," PM Modi said. "During the pandemic, it was Azad's proposal to call an all-party meet to fight the crisis as one nation,'' the PM added.
Modi's appreciation for Azad came despite the fact that the latter had upped his demand for restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir during the same Parliament session.
Azad had said the BJP should table a bill to go ahead with the restoration of the statehood soon.
After Modi's appreciation for him, Azad during his recent visit to Jammu, had reciprocated by showering praises on the PM.
The development had drawn serious criticism from some of the Congress colleagues in Jammu. But Azad remained defiant.
"All this suggests that something is cooking up on Kashmir and Azad has a lead role… This is what parties like National Conference want to cash upon," said a political analyst based in Jammu. |
