Jammu, Sept 26: Former Congress leader and senior politician, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday named his new political outfit as “Democratic Azad Party” on the occasion of first Navratri in Jammu on Monday.
He said his new political outfit would be completely democratic and its name symbolises democracy and freedom of speech and thought.
“Our ideology will be based on the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi,” he said.
He said the DAP will have “no competition” with any other political party and it will focus on “strengthening” peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
“My party won’t be aligned to any ideology. All the members and workers in my party would be completely democratic and independent,” Azad said, while adding, “there will be no discrimination within the party on the basis of religion, caste or creed of the member or worker.”
Addressing media persons here, Azad said that he was able to name his new political party only after deliberating over around 1500 names proposed by his supporters from across the nation.
He said his party’s name is in line with the ideology of former Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi.
“We believe in the ideology of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi. Our party will carry forward the legacy of two of the greats of Indian politics,” said Ghulam Nabi Azad, the former leader of opposition in Jammu.
Azad also displayed the party flag with three colours—mustard, white and dark blue.
According to him, the mustard colour in his party flag signifies “creativity and diversity”, white signifies “peace”, and dark blue signifies “depth and tolerance.”
Political opponents not enemies
The former leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that ever since he announced to float a new political party, his political opponents have been leaving no stone unturned to target him individually.
“They’re abusing me, but I won’t get bothered by it as I don’t consider my political opponents as foes. Political opponents are like students who compete with each other in a classroom, but don’t consider other students as their enemy.”
Azad further said that during his tenure as Chief Minister of J&K, he worked for the welfare of the people day in and day out and this was the reason, he was appreciated by one and all.
“Those who didn’t do anything while in power will have nothing to count now. So they’re busy abusing others,” he said.
‘Demolish walls of hatred’
The former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Nabi Azad asked people of Jammu as well as Kashmir regions to defeat the forces trying to divide them and asked the people of both the regions to “demolish the walls of hatred” as he believed that the people of the twin regions are inter-dependent on each other.
Azad said ever since the practice of Darbar move has been discontinued and train service started to Katra directly, the businesses in Jammu old city have suffered immensely.
“Kashmiris would come to Jammu with the Darbar move which used to benefit the local businesses. But now their businesses have been affected by the Darbar move getting stopped,” he said.
Similarly, Azad said, the industrial sector in Jammu, Samba, and Kathua would provide the raw as well as readymade material to businesses in Kashmir. But post Article 370 abrogation and COVID pandemic period, almost 70 per cent of the small-scale industries were shut in the three Jammu districts due to restrictions outside.
“I strongly believe that the people of Jammu as well as Kashmir are interdependent on each other and hence they should try to demolish the artificial walls of hatred between them,” Azad said.
‘Treat apple laden trucks like ambulances’
Ghulam Nabi Azad also spoke about the losses suffered by Kashmir’s Tourism, Horticulture and Handicraft sector in recent years.
He however accepted that the tourism sector was up due to record number of tourists visiting Kashmir this summer.
“By the grace of the almighty”, Azad said, “Even the farmers associated with the horticulture sector in Kashmir produced bumper crops this year. But what is the purpose of record production if the crop doesn’t reach major Mandis of the country?”
He requested the J&K government and traffic department officials in particular to treat the fruit laden trucks on the highways like ambulances “or else the crop will perish in the trucks itself”.
50% reservation to youth, women
After announcing his party’s name and flag, Azad also announced to provide 50 percent (pc) reservation to women and youth in his new party.
He said that his party would respect the elders but keep a space for youngsters as well.
“So, we have decided to give 50 pc reservation to women and youth in our party,” he said.
Never said Art 370 cannot be restored
Replying to a media query about local leaders’ opposition to Azad’s assertion that Article 370 cannot be restored, he said: “I’ve never said that Article 370 cannot be restored.”
“I only stated that I’m not competent enough to convince Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, who have majority in the Parliament, to restore pre-August 5, 2019 status”.
“However, in case the Supreme Court or the Parliament itself restores Article 370 and 35A, I’ll be the first person to welcome the move,” he added.
Call on contesting elections……
Asked whether he’ll contest the upcoming Assembly elections in J&K, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that a call on this issue will be taken at the right time.
