They question me, but not the one who’s fulfilling Modi dream: Ghulam Nabi Azad | India News
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Amid allegations that his exit is motivated to help BJP ahead of the imminent J&K assembly polls, renegade Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad clarified that neither he nor BJP could contribute a single vote to each other. In his first media interaction since leaving the Grand Old Party, Azad explained to TOI what triggered his exit and his plans for the future. Excerpts:
You have been a loyal soldier of Congress for nearly 50 years. Which point of the journey would you describe as the breaking point?
There have been years of humiliation. When Sonia Gandhi was helming the party from 1998-2004, there was no interference from the family. She consulted seniors, delegated powers. It was collective leadership. When Rahul Gandhi became an MP, Sonia’s consultations with seniors were far reduced and she largely conferred with him. From January 2013, when Rahul became vice-president, Sonia took a back seat. Rahul is a good person, but he has no aptitude for organisation. I have nothing against him as a person. But he does not seem to know the job. His heart and mind are not in it. His heart is abroad.
He never took interest in discussions or delegation. His agenda was to get rid of all those who are above 60, preferring younger blood, even if they lacked experience. He has a mental block. And even then, the highest attrition in Congress in recent years has been from within Team Rahul, be it Jyotiraditya Scindia, RPN Singh, Jitin Prasada, Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore or Ashok Tanwar. It means something is wrong in his functioning and working.
So what triggered your departure?
Since 2013, we have been asking for organisational changes. Before the G-23, I wrote (to Congress president) identifying things that needed to be set right. G-23 wrote that we need a full-time president, elections to the Working Committee and the Chief Election Committee. At the special CWC meeting convened soon after, everyone, starting with Rahul Gandhi, pounced on us. We said we do not believe in ‘Ji Huzoori’. Instead of asking for what is to be done, we were abused and accused of hobnobbing with BJP. Rahul Gandhi spearheaded this attack by dubbing us ‘pro-BJP’.
Later, when Sonia Gandhi called us to her residence, I made it clear that we wanted no post in the party, nor any ticket or Rajya Sabha seat. We sought the setting up of campaign committees for poll-bound states. As former Union ministers, we had influence beyond Congress that could have helped the party. But when committees were formed, I was dropped as star campaigner after 42 years of serving Congress. Only stupid people will drop a Muslim leader with 50 years of experience when the poll-bound states included Kerala, Assam and Bengal, with sizeable minority population. Did they harm me or did they help Modi or Mamata?
There are insinuations that your decision to leave and float an organisation of your own will help BJP.
Congress mein anpadhon ki jamaat hai (Congress is full of illiterate people), especially those doing clerical work. Those who know J&K will know that I cannot increase one vote in BJP’s constituencies, and they cannot in mine. We have different vote-banks and there is no question of working together. Our leaders never bothered to ask me about the politics of Kashmir or the situation after the abolition of Article 370.
They accuse me of hobnobbing with BJP but not the leader who is fulfilling Narendra Modi’s dream of Congress-mukt Bharat. Rahul Gandhi, after speaking 5 minutes in Parliament, hugged PM Modi… Then he winked. He thought he had fooled him. But he fooled himself.
You had access to Sonia Gandhi and also the CWC platform to voice your concerns. Why didn’t you?
Only 24 people are core members. In working committees earlier, the leadership was challenged, yet nothing was leaked outside. Now, if we give suggestions, they pounce on us. We cannot have a verbal duel with people that cannot differentiate between suggestion and abuse. The committee should have only core members. The current CWC is a crowd, a shouting brigade installed to ensure seniors cannot speak.
Can Congress be revived?
What revival? Congress has reached a stage where any president you appoint will only be a scapegoat. The former party president himself lost his seat from a known Congress bastion.
Why are you floating your own party?
My ideology remains unchanged. I will rein in the exodus of all those disgruntled people who are leaving Congress. I am a bridge between Jammu and Kashmir since I have a following in both parts. We will launch the party from Jammu.
What about the book you have been writing? Will it include what has happened now?
These chapters were already there.
What about G23?
I only know of my state. They will have to see about the respective states that they represent.
You have been a loyal soldier of Congress for nearly 50 years. Which point of the journey would you describe as the breaking point?
There have been years of humiliation. When Sonia Gandhi was helming the party from 1998-2004, there was no interference from the family. She consulted seniors, delegated powers. It was collective leadership. When Rahul Gandhi became an MP, Sonia’s consultations with seniors were far reduced and she largely conferred with him. From January 2013, when Rahul became vice-president, Sonia took a back seat. Rahul is a good person, but he has no aptitude for organisation. I have nothing against him as a person. But he does not seem to know the job. His heart and mind are not in it. His heart is abroad.
He never took interest in discussions or delegation. His agenda was to get rid of all those who are above 60, preferring younger blood, even if they lacked experience. He has a mental block. And even then, the highest attrition in Congress in recent years has been from within Team Rahul, be it Jyotiraditya Scindia, RPN Singh, Jitin Prasada, Hardik Patel, Alpesh Thakore or Ashok Tanwar. It means something is wrong in his functioning and working.
So what triggered your departure?
Since 2013, we have been asking for organisational changes. Before the G-23, I wrote (to Congress president) identifying things that needed to be set right. G-23 wrote that we need a full-time president, elections to the Working Committee and the Chief Election Committee. At the special CWC meeting convened soon after, everyone, starting with Rahul Gandhi, pounced on us. We said we do not believe in ‘Ji Huzoori’. Instead of asking for what is to be done, we were abused and accused of hobnobbing with BJP. Rahul Gandhi spearheaded this attack by dubbing us ‘pro-BJP’.
Later, when Sonia Gandhi called us to her residence, I made it clear that we wanted no post in the party, nor any ticket or Rajya Sabha seat. We sought the setting up of campaign committees for poll-bound states. As former Union ministers, we had influence beyond Congress that could have helped the party. But when committees were formed, I was dropped as star campaigner after 42 years of serving Congress. Only stupid people will drop a Muslim leader with 50 years of experience when the poll-bound states included Kerala, Assam and Bengal, with sizeable minority population. Did they harm me or did they help Modi or Mamata?
There are insinuations that your decision to leave and float an organisation of your own will help BJP.
Congress mein anpadhon ki jamaat hai (Congress is full of illiterate people), especially those doing clerical work. Those who know J&K will know that I cannot increase one vote in BJP’s constituencies, and they cannot in mine. We have different vote-banks and there is no question of working together. Our leaders never bothered to ask me about the politics of Kashmir or the situation after the abolition of Article 370.
They accuse me of hobnobbing with BJP but not the leader who is fulfilling Narendra Modi’s dream of Congress-mukt Bharat. Rahul Gandhi, after speaking 5 minutes in Parliament, hugged PM Modi… Then he winked. He thought he had fooled him. But he fooled himself.
You had access to Sonia Gandhi and also the CWC platform to voice your concerns. Why didn’t you?
Only 24 people are core members. In working committees earlier, the leadership was challenged, yet nothing was leaked outside. Now, if we give suggestions, they pounce on us. We cannot have a verbal duel with people that cannot differentiate between suggestion and abuse. The committee should have only core members. The current CWC is a crowd, a shouting brigade installed to ensure seniors cannot speak.
Can Congress be revived?
What revival? Congress has reached a stage where any president you appoint will only be a scapegoat. The former party president himself lost his seat from a known Congress bastion.
Why are you floating your own party?
My ideology remains unchanged. I will rein in the exodus of all those disgruntled people who are leaving Congress. I am a bridge between Jammu and Kashmir since I have a following in both parts. We will launch the party from Jammu.
What about the book you have been writing? Will it include what has happened now?
These chapters were already there.
What about G23?
I only know of my state. They will have to see about the respective states that they represent.
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