Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday showered praises on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking at an event organised by the Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust, former Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said he has serious political differences with Modi but he “appreciates that the Prime Minister does not try to hide his background from the world”.
“I like a lot of things about many leaders. I am from the village and feel proud… Even our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) hails from the village and used to sell tea. We are political rivals but I appreciate that he does not hide his true self. I have travelled the whole world. I have stayed in 5-star and 7-star hotels.
“But the scent of the people who belong to my village is unmatched,” the Congress leader said after he was felicitated with the “Sher-e-Gurjar award” by Gurjar Desh Charitable Trust. Interestingly, the platform from where Azad spoke eloquently in favour of the PM was inaugurated by Sonia Gandhi, 11 years ago on May 29, 2010.
After retiring from the Rajya Sabha, Azad is seen attending events in the close company of Union Ministers.
His relations with the Congress high command too are worsening with every passing day.
On Saturday, a group of G-23 leaders led by Azad had openly targeted the Congress high command in Jammu. Former Ministers Anand Sharma and Kapil Sibal stood behind Azad and targeted the party high command for not utilising his ‘experience’ and services when they needed him the most.
Hitting back, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi had advised the G-23 leaders to make their “best contribution” and display their “loyalty” to the party by campaigning to strengthen it in the States that are going to polls.
On the day of his retirement from the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi too had showered praises on Azad. In his farewell speech Modi had said, “It would be difficult for anyone to fill the shoes of Azad as he cared not only about his political affiliation but also about the country and the House.
“I worry that after Azad whosoever will take over from him will have to fill very big boots because he cared not only about his party but about the country as well as the House. This is not a small thing, this a big thing,” PM Modi had said.
Meanwhile, National Conference president and sitting parliamentarian Farooq Abdullah on Sunday said that the Congress “must unite” to fight the divisive forces of the country. His remarks came a day after “G-23” dissident leaders, who have been calling for a leadership change and organisational reforms in the party, met here.
Abdullah said that he wants the Congress party to be strong, adding that people look forward to it to sort things out in the country.
“I want the Congress to be strong and it must unite to fight the divisive forces of the country. People look forward to the Congress to sort things out in the country,” he said.
Monday, 01 March 2021 | Mohit Kandhari | Jammu
