I'm "24 Carat Congressman", Not Upset With Party: Ghulam Nabi Azad

Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said reforms are a dynamic process and imperative for every party, society and the country as a whole for the benefit of people.

Ghulam Nabi Azad Sunday put to rest all speculations about his possible exit from the party, calling himself a "24 Carat Congressman" and saying he was not upset with the party, but was instead working for unifying and uniting its workers.

The former chief minister has been holding public rallies in Jammu and Kashmir over the past nearly two months and was seen accompanied by his loyalists including senior party leaders and former ministers who recently resigned from their party posts in a revolt against J&K Congress president GA Mir.

Talking to reporters after addressing a public meeting in the border belt of Khour on the outskirts of Jammu, Mr Azad, however, said reforms are a dynamic process and imperative for every party, society and the country as a whole for the benefit of people.

"Yes, I am a Congressman. Who told you I am not? 24 'Carat' Congressman. How does it matter if 18 Carats are challenging 24 carat?" Mr Azad said, responding to questions about the speculations of his possible exit from the party like former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh.