Ghulam Nabi Azad organized a series of protests in Jammu and Kashmir.
Srinagar:
A series of public meetings by senior Parliamentary leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in Jammu and Kashmir has sparked speculation that former MP Rajya Sabha – part of the dissident ‘G-23’ group in party – will probably launch her own outfit soon.
Mr Azad is tight-lipped but has frequently criticized Congress, more than ever at a public meeting in Poonch, where he said he could not see Parliament winning 300 seats in the 2024 election.
Mr. Azad has responded to criticism for his impending application of Article 370.
After strongly protesting the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in parliament, Mr. Azad said that his only request was to restore state status and hold parliamentary elections.
About 20 Azad loyalists in the Jammu and Kashmir Parliament have resigned from their party in the past two weeks. In their resignation letter, the leaders asked about sweeping changes in Parliament including the removal of Ghulam Ahmad Mir as head of the state unit.
GN Monga said: “We asked the senior commander of the party to make them realize that there are certain problems in the party. We want to fix those problems. As for Azad sahib, he is the our leader and have been here for many years.” , Deputy Speaker of the Jammu and Kashmir National Assembly, who was one of 20 leaders to step down from office.
Mr. Monga said in the letter they have also requested the dismissal of Chief of Staff of the Jammu and Kashmir Parliament. “Yes, we asked him to be removed. It’s in the letter,” he said.
The large crowds at Mr Azad’s public meetings surprised observers and rattled Parliament. Mr. Azad has been a Rajya Sabha MP for almost 4 decades. The last time he stood in an election was in 2014, from Jammu’s Udhampur constituency seat, losing to the BJP.
Sources say most of the Parliamentary leaders in Jammu and Kashmir are likely to side with Mr Azad if he forms his own party. “There are a number of leaders from other parties who have approached Mr. Azad to join in case he becomes popular with his party,” said a source close to the matter.
An anxious Congress has said it respects Mr Azad but is unhappy with his resignation.
“The whole party respects him. We respect him but follow the discipline. But there are some people who are considered close to him (Mr. Azad) … Their statement is clearly in violation of the law. violation of discipline,” said Ravinder Sharma, spokesman for Jammu and Kashmir’s Parliament. .
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