DDC Fayaz Naik, Alyas, Munner among thousands from Banihal join DAP
STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Democratic Azad Party (DAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday said he does not worry about leaders leaving his party till voters are with him.
His remarks come after several of his colleagues left the DAP and switched back to the Congress.
Azad said he has come to Jammu and Kashmir after seeing miseries of the people here and he does not “rely” on leaders.
“I do not worry whether 10 or 12 leaders go to Delhi. Till the time the voters are with me, I do not worry for the leaders. You (voters) make the leaders. I used to give tickets, you made them win “
“Now, those who used to give tickets and those who made them win have come together. Let us see how many will win,” Azad said at a party function here.
He said the leaders who have left his party “will face worse in their own constituencies, God willing”.
Azad said he has not come to J&K relying on leaders, but has come for the people. “I have come here after seeing your miseries, your troubles. I have come back after seeing the poverty, unemployment. “Our people are living in an atmosphere of fear. When will someone be arrested, no one knows, when will people’s land, building or house be snatched, there is no guarantee. No leader or political party raises voice against it. So, I left everything to come here,” he said.
He said there is no corner of the country or Jammu and Kashmir which he has not visited and where he has not helped the people.
He said he has the courage as well as the “acquaintance and influence” to use that for the betterment of the people of J-K.
“People tell me that I have done 10 times the developmental work than I remember at a particular place. And when I left everything to come here, you also gave me 10 times the love and affection. I do not have any wealth, but I have programmes. I have the courage, I have the acquaintance, the influence, which I can use for the betterment of this state, for the employment of its youth,” Azad said.
Meanwhile, a party handout stated that exodus from Congress Party to DAP continues in a big way even on second consecutive day.
Thousands of leaders from Banihal Constituency, including DDC Member Fayaz Naik, Alyas Banihali, Munner Bhatt, Ex District Ramban Congress President Farooq Katoch, Sarpanch Khurshid, Ajaz Nizami, Sheikh Manzoor, Sarpanch Rayees Khanday, Bashir Naik, Bashir Kumar and eight Sarpanches and 32 Panches on Saturday joined the Democratic Azad Party in Srinagar.
The political workers took pledge to work for the party and general public of Jammu and Kashmir to usher it to the new dawn of peace and development.
They said the works done by Ghulam Nabi Azad as chief minister of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir can’t be compared with any other leaders or political parties.
Speaking on the occasion, Azad said that the mass joining of people, especially educated youth reflects the faith and trust they repose on his party. He said the response of people to his party is a great source of motivation to take his developmental agenda forward.
“The way people are responding to our call gives me satisfaction that people have realised a need for change. Our party will continue with the agenda of peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir and youth will be our leading force,” he said.
Azad said when he became the Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir, he was disappointed to see the Banihal constituency unattended by successive regimes.
“I made Banihal constituency as my priority and developed it with dozens of infrastructural projects. I sanctioned schools, colleges, roads, hospitals and dozens of other projects for it. Thousands of people have been benefitted and once we are back to power the works will be started again in triple shifts to make Banihal as model constituency in the entire country,” he said.
Azad said the people of Banihal are close to his heart and he will never let them down.
“You have trust in me that seems reflected in your support. I will never let you down,” he told the people.
Among others present on the occasion included Vice Chairman G. M. Saroori, Taj Mohiuddin Treasurer, Mohd Amin Bhatt Provincial President, Chief Spokesperson Salman Nizami, Arun Singh Raju DAP Secretary, DAP Sr Leader M. Amin Bhatt, Farooq Wani Ex Banihal MC Chairman, Ghulam Mohudin Rtd ZEO, Ab Gani Khan, Nabeel Khalid, Shafiq Shabnam and Shujada Bashir.
