All parties will be consulted on One Nation, One Election: Azad

STATE TIMES NEWS

Srinagar: Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is a member of the high-level committee formed to explore the feasibility of simultaneous polls, on Monday said all political parties will be consulted before a decision on ‘one nation, one election’ is taken.
“Only a preliminary meeting has been held. It was an introductory meeting. I do not think there is any urgency in implementing it, as some people are saying, because consultations are to be held with national parties, regional parties, recognised parties . Many people have to be called (for consultation),” Azad told reporters here.

‘Gandhi was an ideal of peace, humanity, secularism’
SRINAGAR: VowING to continue with the principles of Gandhian ideology, the DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday said that in present times the ideals of non-violence, Truth, unity and justices are some of the founding principles that Democratic Progressive Azad Party believes in.
“These principals are the bedrock of our party’s ideology and my vision for Jammu and Kashmir. Let us continue on our journey hand in hand towards a more equitable and progressive future,” he said at a function on Gandhi Jayanti at DPAP office in Srinagar.
On the occasion, Gandhi Global Foundation also felicitated Azad and admired his works and contributions in promoting the Gandhian ideology throughout his life.
Azad said that one can easily understand why the Gandhi has devoted his life to such principles given the present situation where the humanity is overridden by materialistic interests.
“Gandhiji was not hungry for power but aiming to build harmony, unity and brotherhood based on justice and equality,” he added. Azad urged the party workers to read the biography of Gandhi and understand how the superior motives for the humanity can be achieved peacefully and the system of equality and justice can be established. “His life was not easy. He was cornered from all sides for speaking truth. But he didn’t care since he was having no personal interests. Even till his last breath he fought and believed in the system of equality and justice which made him the father of nation,” the former J&K Chief Minister said.
Among others present on the occasion were Taj Mohiuddin Treasurer, Vice Chairman G.M.Saroori, Padhma Shri S.P.Verma, Mohd Amin Bhatt Provincial President, Salman Nizami Chief Spokesperson, Haji Musadiq, Shafiq Shabnam, Khalid Tufail, Amir Bhatt Dist President, Arif Maqbool, Mushtaq Khanday, AAmir Rasool, Umar Kakroo and others.

The veteran politician, who was named in the panel headed by former president Ram Nath Kovind, said, “It is also wrong to think that the committee will take a decision on its own. Everyone’s opinion will be sought.”
On the Women’s Reservation Bill, the former J-K chief minister and chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) said the bill has come 30 years late but lauded the political parties for giving up rigidity to pass the legislation in both houses of the parliament.
“It has come late. It should have come 15 to 20 years earlier It should have come even 30 years earlier. The earlier attempts like during the UPA, some of the constituent parties were against it. “There was no unanimity.

Now, at least there is unanimity, and it was passed in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The government and all the parties, which did not stick to their rigidity and supported the bill this time, deserve to be congratulated for it,” he added.
On the “delay” in holding assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the former chief minister said polls were the essence of democracy and have to be held, even though these have been delayed.
“It is unthinkable that there will be no elections. If there are no elections, there will be no democracy. “And the elections are not only due but overdue, especially the assembly elections. Parliament elections are held on time, there has been no difficulty but it has been a long time since assembly polls were held,” he said.