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Friction ensued among factions of J&K Congress due to G-23- J&K INC leaders met Rahul Gandhi

Mir-Azad

Ghulam Ahmed Mir, the chief of J&K Pradesh Congress committee met Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, in the presence of AICC-in-charge for J&K affairs, Rajni Patil, in the late hours of Tuesday. This meeting comes in the wake of the political meandering on the former Rajya Sabha member & Senior INC leader, Ghulam nabi Azad.

An official statement issued, in this regard, stated that, Rahul Gandhi was apprised of the situation and the current state of affairs on the political front in J&K. The leaders informed and updated him about the protests and agitations against the humungous price hikes of petrol, diesel, gas, and the decision to impose property tax & other taxes in the erstwhile state. These developments have overburdened the already distressed residents of J&K.

Also Read: Land laws and associated acts of J&K changed by the Central government, Gupkar alliance calls this a “huge betrayal”

In order to strengthen the party (INC) & augment and enhance the organizational structure at various levels in J&K, the PCC president sought guidelines from the high command.

The PCC leader was asked by Rahul Gandhi to continue works on highlighting the wrongdoings of the (central) government. The official statement also reflected that a special focus was asked to be put on the anti-people decisions of Modi government towards J&K.

Impacts of G-23 meeting 

GN Azad had recently held the G-23 summit, formed of the dissenters in the congress, in Jammu on Saturday & on Sunday. Subsequently, on Tuesday, a faction of the JKPCC under the leadership of secretary Shahnawaz Choudhary burnt Azad’s effigy for praising the PM in the Jammu meeting of the G-23. The faction of the JKPCC also blamed Azad for weakening the party. This led to friction with another group within J&K Congress unit. Another faction led by district Congress Committee Jammu urban general secretary Anil Kohli and PCC executive member Gourav Chopra registered their protests against Choudhary and asked for his removal from the PCC.

GA Mir, the JKPCC president tried to play down the symptoms of factionalism brewing inside the congress, specifically triggered through the comments of the leaders at the G-23 meeting. Mir also played down the event of Tuesday, stating that the INC is a very big party and everyone analyzes the developments from his/her understandings, & that everybody has the right to express oneself.

Though the JKPCC president is trying to save the INC from the impacts of the G-23 meetings, it cannot be avoided that the dissenters are seeking to spread out to states like Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. Prior to the party’s presidential election, which is expected to take place in May-end, a prominent G-23 face, Anand Sharma will probably meet up with leaders in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab which can be problematic for the INC-high command.

While the political environment in the J&KPCC is witnessing the INC dealing with the friction between the Shahnawaz Choudhary & the likes of Azad, the high command cannot avoid the developments with respect to the meetings and the decisions being taken at the G-23 meetings of the dissenters.

Also Read: Anand Sharma said on Congress pact with Abbas Siddiqui’s party that it is against core ideology

After the praise of Modi by Azad and the criticism of the Left-Congress joining hands with the ISF in West Bengal, the dissenters or rather the G-23 members can prove to be problematic for INC, especially when it is set to face five major elections in India (West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, TN, Puducherry).

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Will join BJP when there will be black snow in Kashmir, said outgoing Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad in RS

Ghulam Nabi Azad

Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, after a four-decades-old career, would be resigning from the Rajya Sabha one week from now. He said that he will join BJP when there will be black snow in Kashmir, thereby clarifying that he would not ever join BJP. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has dismissed the theory & speculation that he may join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Azad said that he has known Modi since the 90s when they would participate in TV debates. He added that they fought, discussed, and even shared some tea. He likewise highlighted his friendly relations with late former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Azad maintained that those who say he will join the BJP or are spreading these rumours do not know him.

In his 28-minute farewell speech in the parliament, he talked about his expectation about rebuilding of harmony in Jammu and Kashmir and the return of Kashmiri Pandits back to the Valley.

Azad reviewed his long relationship with Parliament starting from 1980 and furthermore his experience as Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He retraced his political venture starting from the Bhalesa block in the Doda region. Azad said that Congress president Sonia Gandhi composed a long letter to him appreciating his work all through as the party’s general  secretary and the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha. Azad was among the four members in the Rajya Sabha to be given an enthusiastic, & emotional farewell by the House.

The six years’ term of all the Rajya Sabha members from Jammu and Kashmir is reaching a conclusion during the current session of Parliament and there will be no representation in the Upper House from the Union Territory till the time a Legislative Assembly gets constituted after elections.