Talk of my party being the BJP’s B-team in J&K is nonsense, says Ghulam Nabi Azad
The Hindu
In a conversation with The Hindu, Democratic Progressive Azad Party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad refused to categorically rule out the possibility of a future post-poll alliance with any party, including the BJP.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, who ended his five-decade-old association with the Congress to launch his own Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) last year, said that the talk of his party being a B-team of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Jammu and Kashmir was “nonsense”.
However, in a conversation with The Hindu on Tuesday, he refused to categorically rule out the possibility of a future post-poll alliance with any party, including the BJP.
In his autobiography Azaad, being released on Wednesday, the former Congress stalwart — who has written about his close association with Indira Gandhi and her sons, Sanjay and Rajiv — referred to his personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi despite being the Leader of the Opposition (LoP).
“Throughout my speeches, I found Modi to be a great listener. Not even once did he rebut my arguments or speak against me, inside or outside Parliament. He would always remain calm, though he would taunt me by making some political references. But he never attacked me personally. This may also have been because, unlike other leaders, I would not call the PM or other members of the ruling party names or abuse them,” Mr. Azad wrote in his book.
Ahead of the book’s launch, the former Chief Minister of J&K told The Hindu that his priority was to restore Statehood, adding that his party would not ally with any other party before the election.
Asked if he would rule out any alliance with the BJP even in the future, he said, “I don’t want comment now what can happen post election. What is more important for us right now is restoration of Statehood, and [reserving] land and employment only for the locals and not for outsiders.”
“Before the elections, it is not politically wise for any political party to say they will go with A or B. As of now, I think I will have to go alone. Who knew in Punjab, Aam Admi Party will make the Akalis and the Congress disappear. If AAP can happen in Punjab, why can’t my party happen in Jammu and Kashmir?” he added.
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