Former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad launched his party the Democratic Azad party (DAP) in Jammu and Kashmir. The veteran politician had ended his five-decade-long association with the Congress on August 26.
The former J&K chief minister told the media that he is launching Democratic Azad Party (DAP) from here today. "It symbolises democracy and freedom of speech and thought. Our ideology will be based on the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru."
He added that the DAP will have "no competition" with any other political party and will focus on "strengthening" peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the new party will not be autocratic but democratic. "The DAP will be based on the principles of democracy. It will not be influenced by any outside leader or other parties. It will have independent thinking and will stay independent in its decisions. It will not be autocratic and power will not be in one hand."
DAP will hold grassroots level elections for its structure. "We are here to compete at our own level. We don't have any enemy or foe. 50% of tickets will be given to youth."
Speaking about the mustard, white and dark blue flag, he said: "The mustard colour indicates creativity and unity in diversity. White indicates peace and blue indicates freedom, open space, imagination, and limits from the depths of the ocean to the heights of the sky."
He also clarified that his surname Azad is not linked to the party name. Addressing the accusations of having a prior alliance with the BJP, the Kashmiri politician said that he or his party does not have an alliance with the BJP but only the hearts of the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "We have not consulted anyone before launching the party."
He further stated that DAP policy will not be influenced by religion. "Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Christians are just four chambers of a human heart." The party founder stated that the name of the party is Hindustani. "Jawaharlal Nehru would say that a mix of Urdu and Hindu, spoken in our homes, is Hindustani."
When asked about Article 370, Azad said that he never said it will not be restored. He clarified that if someone can persuade PM Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah, it can be changed. "I can't do that as I have no such strength at present." He had earlier hinted that Article 370 which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir was unlikely to be restored forever.
When Azad left Congress, over two dozen prominent leaders including former deputy chief minister Tara Chand followed suit in his support. "The Indian National Congress has lost both the will and the ability under the tutelage of the coterie that runs the AICC to fight for what is right for India," he wrote in his resignation to Sonia Gandhi.