Anantnag, Apr 17: Ghulam Nabi Azad, Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), has opted out of the parliamentary elections and the party has fielded Advocate Mohammad Saleem Parray for the Anantnag-Rajouri seat.
Mohammad Amin Bhat, DPAP Provincial President, Kashmir told reporters that Azad chaired a meeting during which it was decided that he would not contest the parliamentary elections, but instead focus on “serving” the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
“The party has selected Mohammad Saleem Parray to contest for the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary seat. Azad Sahab was questioned by the people of Doda about why he would contest parliamentary elections instead of serving them as chief minister,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Saleem Parray expressed gratitude to the party chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad and the entire leadership, saying it was unanimously decided to introduce a new face to the people.
“I will strive to fulfill the hopes of the party leadership and the chairman, as well as the expectations of the people associated with the party,” Parray said.
He said that the Parliament has significance in representing the voices of the people and criticised political parties for not addressing this aspect. Parray urged political parties to present their work to the people instead of making empty promises.
“We wanted Azad Sahab to represent the constituency, but the overwhelming response from the people who urged us to bring back the same governance style as during Ghulam Nabi Azad’s Chief Minister tenure,” he added.
‘NC, Congress cutting votes of DPAP, not BJP’
Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday issued a scathing rebuke against Congress’s Rahul Gandhi and National Conference’s Omar Abdullah for endorsing a candidate allegedly associated with the perpetrators of the Kathua rape case.
Azad condemned such alliances, asserting that they betrayed the trust of the people and compromised justice.
Expressing disappointment with the present leadership of Congress, Azad remarked that their actions have severely tarnished the party’s ideology, which he has tirelessly worked to uphold. He said that he would have never allowed such compromises within the Congress.
The DPAP chief further criticised Omar Abdullah, accusing him of campaigning against DPAP in the Chenab Valley to divide secular votes. He questioned Abdullah’s contributions to his own constituency and highlighted his own efforts in providing infrastructure and development projects to Ganderbal, Abdullah’s family constituency.
“Omar Abdullah is campaigning in Chenab Valley against DPAP, not BJP. He has been tasked to divide secular votes. He did nothing for his own constituency. I gave district status to Ganderbal, which is the family constituency of Abdullahs. I provided them with colleges, and hospitals. What has Omar done for his home constituency? He only exploited and harmed the people,” he said.
During public meetings in Sangaldan and Ukhral areas of the Banihal constituency, Azad raised concerns about the Congress party’s approach to addressing public issues, particularly in BJP-ruled states. He criticised the party’s reluctance to engage in direct confrontations and tendency to seek out safe seats where minority populations are stronger.
Azad questioned Rahul Gandhi’s reluctance to contest in BJP-ruled states and accused him of seeking refuge in minority-dominated areas.
Azad portrayed both Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah as “spoon-fed kids” who have not made personal sacrifices in their political careers. He emphasized the importance of supporting candidates dedicated to addressing public issues and urged the public to rally behind G.M. Saroori in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, citing Saroori’s commitment to addressing pressing public concerns.
