Raze walls of hatred, elect secular leaders in next election: Azad
JAMMU: Senior Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday asked people to “raze the walls of hatred before the next assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and elect secular leaders”.
Without naming anyone, he slammed political parties that do communal politics to propel their fortunes.
Addressing a rally at Surankote in Poonch, Azad said, “Around 20 years ago, there was no division among Hindus, Muslims, Gujjars, and Paharis. The nation progressed in recent years and peopled acquired comforts of life but they degraded themselves from humans to Hindus, Muslims, Paharis, Gujjars, Sikhs, Kashmiris, and Dogras.”
He wished the “time comes back when everyone was human and brotherhood existed between all sections of the society”.
He stressed on the new generation, including young politicians, to be truly secular.
“This is our biggest responsibility. I urge the youth to never be biased with people and never differentiate between them on the basis of caste, creed, colour, religion and region,” he said.
“We are answerable to God for our deeds. So, for peace of mind and satisfaction, we should do justice with all. That is what politics is all about,” he added.
“I request people in Rajouri and Poonch to raze the walls of hatred before the next assembly elections. This is in your hands. Tell the politicians doing communal politics not to spread hatred,” he said.
Azad said his job as a leader is to “strengthen communal brotherhood and unite hearts”.
“Some parties don’t work for the people. They give religious slogans and gain out of it. But the common people are eventually at loss because then, they don’t get roads, schools, jobs and hospitals,” he added.
Azad expressed grave concern over the “tough situation in J&K” where the BJP government has started retrieving land from people.
“In J&K, land is scarce. There are people living on small land holdings from the past 50-60 years, but the present government has started taking it back. The government doesn’t know the history and geography of J&K. Where will these people go, if they don’t earn their livelihood from the government land?” he asked.
He regretted that the government, “instead of providing jobs” to people, has started “sacking employees in the name of dead wood”.
Azad put to rest speculations rife over switching loyalties. “I have been part of the Congress for the past four decades. I was a Congressman and will continue to remain so,” he added.