Jammu, Feb 5: Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad Wednesday stated that the Waqf Bill should be in the interest of the community. “As regards this Bill, it should serve the interests of the community to which the Waqf belongs. It should be framed as they want and nothing should be done against their will,” he said. He was responding to media queries after visiting the residences of his senior colleagues to offer condolences here in Jammu.
When asked about the reason behind low-key activities of his party post J&K assembly elections, Azad answered with a counter-question, “Before asking that, first give me a brief about the activities of those who have stormed to power after getting elected in the elections. What are their activities?”
Confronted with a query about his opinion on the functioning of the elected government in J&K, Azad said, “It will be good if it works well and meets aspirations.”
“I have been here for the past two days in Jammu, visiting the houses of our political colleagues, who suffered irreparable losses in the form of the demise of their near and dear ones in the last few months, to share my grief. I also visited the residence of a political colleague, who departed for his heavenly abode recently. I paid visits to their residences to offer my condolences to the bereaved families and share their grief. I don’t think it should be linked to politics anyway,” Azad said, while responding to a query about the objective of his visit.
“Elections do happen after two or three months in one or other part of the country. This is a usual phenomenon in such a big country. In the process, every party passes through this cycle of win or loss, at times registering handsome wins and other times suffering debacles. Delhi will also witness this phenomenon,” he said.
“Only difference in the case of Delhi is that Delhi is quite visible being the focus of print and electronic media. So, all political parties are fighting with their full might to win. This is good for democracy. Let’s see what outcome results bring out keeping in view massive expenditure on TV advertisements by different political parties,” he said.
Azad, however, refused to comment on the possible outcome in Delhi elections, saying, “None can predict it during the present milieu.”
Earlier a party spokesperson said that the former Chief Minister on Wednesday visited the residences of his senior colleagues Jugal Kishore Sharma, former minister and Vishal Gupta in Jammu to offer condolences.
Later, he also visited the residence of Shamsher Singh Manhas, former MP to express his condolences over his (MP’s) sad demise. During these visits, Azad prayed for the departed souls, demonstrating his commitment to supporting his colleagues during difficult times.
