STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: From aggrieved people seeking his intervention for redressal of their issues to political and social activists coming forward to extend their support, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is having a busy schedule in attending people visiting him in Jammu.
The 73-year-old leader, who quit the Congress last month and is slated to form his own national party in the coming days from Jammu and Kashmir, meeting delegations from different parts of the Jammu region since Monday.
The delegations start arriving at Azad’s Gandhi Nagar residence at around 8:00AM. Addressing his first public meeting after returning from Delhi on Sunday, the veteran politician spelled out the agenda of his yet-to-be-named party and the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, protection of land and job rights of its residents tops the list.
“Every 15 minutes, a new delegation is meeting Azad to extend their support…We had delegations from Pir Panjal’s Rajouri and Poonch and Chenab valley’s Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban and various delegations from Kathua, Reasi and Samba districts since this morning,” said Balwan Singh, who, along with former deputy chief minister Tara Chand, was present alongside Azad.
A delegation from Sunderbani led by BDC Chairman Arun Sharma also met Azad today at Gandhi Nagar.
Azad, 73, ended his five-decade-long association with the Congress on August 26, terming the party “comprehensively destroyed”. He also lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for “demolishing” the party’s entire consultative mechanism.
Singh said the interactions will continue on Wednesday which will be followed by a three-day tour of Azad to Chenab valley region where he is scheduled to address public meetings at Bhalla-Bhaderwah on September 8, Drabshalla-Kishtwar on September 9 and Chatroo-Kishtwar on September 10.
He said almost all delegations extended their unconditional support to Azad and welcomed him back in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Not only former Congress workers, but people from other parties have also come in delegations to meet Azad,” Singh said, claiming that “the wave is favouring Azad and you will see massive joinings in the coming weeks”.
