Kashmir

Ghulam Nabi launches Democratic Azad Party as secular force in J&K

Exactly a month after severing his 50-year-long relationship with the Congress, Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday named his new outfit as ‘Democratic Azad Party’ and unfolded it’s flag with three vertical stripes in blue, white and yellow.

Addressing a crowded press conference in Jammu, the 73-year-old politician said that the thought process of his rank and file would be “purely democratic and secular” with no scope either for an autocratic or communal mindset. “Politics and religion will be poles apart here”, he asserted.

“We believe in total equality between Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Christians. And this will be reflected in our party’s constitution”, Azad said and referred to Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote of the “ray of light” in Kashmir.

He said that his party would fight against the radical mindset promoted by separatists like Geelani.

In a significant announcement, Azad said that at least 50 percent of the positions in his party would be reserved for the youth and the women.

“Our party will be completely democratic. There will be no autocracy, no power in just one hand. Everybody will be free in a true democratic setting”, Azad said with an apparent reference to the Gandhi family’s influence over the Congress party.

He, however, did not mention any names and said that politics and personal relationships were and should be two completely different things.

Azad said that he wanted to reveal the name and flag of his party on the auspicious occasion of Navratra. Explaining the three blue, and yellow stripes of his party flag, he said: “Mustard colour indicates creativity and unity in diversity, white indicates peace and blue signifies freedom, open space, imagination and limits from the depths of the ocean to the heights of the sky.”

Azad praised Maharaja Hari Singh that on the strong demand of the Kashmiri Pandits he had safeguarded rights of J&K’s permanent residents over land and  government jobs. He said that restoration of the same rights and Statehood, which had been removed through reorganisation in August 2019, would be the key objective of his party.

Azad said that his party’s rallies and activities would be part of the poll campaigning as elections could be held in Jammu and Kashmir at any point in time.

As regards the outcry in Kashmir valley over the ‘barriers’ being created in transportation of fresh fruit, particularly apples, Azad demanded “unhindered passage of all fruit laden trucks just as is the case with ambulances” on the Srinagar-Jammu highway.

“These trucks should reach Delhi in 24 hours”, Azad said. He said that J&K’s economy was hugely dependent on tourism, horticulture and handicrafts. “Even as tourism has been revived to a great extent, the government must ensure every possible support to horticulture”, Azad said.

In yet another significant demand, Azad said that the decades old practice of “Darbar Move” between Srinagar and Jammu must be restored as it had badly affected not only the liaison but also the businesses more in Jammu than in Kashmir.

“These artificial barriers must go at once. Darbar used to be a link, a relationship between the people of Kashmir and Jammu.

Azad emphasised the revival of the centuries-old relations between the people of the two geographically, politically, culturally and linguistically divided regions.

Also Read: IN Exclusive: Azad to float a new party on Sunday, anticipating J&K polls in December

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

Recent Posts

“We are clear that talks and terror don’t go together”: MEA says on Pakistan

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday has reiterated India's stance on bilateral discussions…

3 hours ago

“New visa module for Afghan nationals, people can apply in six categories”: MEA

India implemented a new visa module for Afghan nationals on April 29, Ministry of External…

3 hours ago

“India in touch with Iranian authorities for locating them”: MEA on three Indians missing in Iran

India is in touch with Iranian authorities for locating three Indian nationals who went missing…

4 hours ago

Shutdown in Awaran after civilian killings; Baloch groups urge UN probe into Pakistan’s actions

A citywide closure occurred throughout the Awaran district in Balochistan on Wednesday, with shops, businesses,…

4 hours ago

Czech Republic blames China’s APT31 for cyberattack on Foreign Ministry

The Czech Republic's government has officially linked a malicious cyberattack on its Ministry of Foreign…

5 hours ago

CDS Gen Anil Chauhan to engage with global military leadership at Shangri-La Dialogue 2025

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan will visit Singapore from May 30 to June…

6 hours ago