While the murmurs in the valley are yet to die down over the abrogation of Article 370, former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday acknowledged the fact that it won’t be restored.
“Article 370 won’t be restored,” Azad said while addressing a gathering in Baramulla. “I won’t be fooling the people,” he said, in what is the first sign of acceptance by a leader from Kashmir.
The abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, has been an issue of discussion since August 2019 when it was revoked by the central government. However, Azad’s plain speaking on Sunday could have a big impact on the restless valley.
Meanwhile, the veteran leader said that he would announce his political party in the next 10 days. Azad said that the people of J&K will decide on the name and the flag for the party.
“I’ll give a Hindustani name to my party that everyone can understand,” Azad said, while reiterating that his party will focus on the restoration of full statehood, right to land, and employment to native domicile. “I will fight to restore the statehood of Jammu & Kashmir and the rights of its people,” he added.
Azad said that the first unit of his political outfit would be formed in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the impending assembly polls. Following Azad’s exit from the Congress, over a dozen leaders in Jammu and Kashmir quit the party and joined the veteran leader.
Earlier this month, former minister GM Saroori had said that the Azad-led party would be a reality on the political map of Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the next assembly elections. The assembly elections are likely to be held after the completion of the ongoing process of special summary revision of the electoral rolls on November 25.
Meanwhile, Azad continued with his attack on former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, who has recently said it is easier for many to make peace with the BJP.
A day before Gandhi’s comments on Friday, Azad said that he had maintained a “dignified silence” since his departure from the party, but their continued attack forced him to retaliate.
“After my resignation letter, I maintained a dignified silence for four days, but when Sonia Gandhi and Rahul kept attacking me, I was left with no other option but to make my point, as my religion and ethics of politics give you the right to protect yourself when you are attacked,” Azad said.
“They tried to defame me by firing missiles at me, but when I retaliated, they got grounded with a single shot of a .303 rifle. If I had used a ballistic missile, then they would have vanished from the politics forever,” Azad had said.