Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad hints at retirement

Jammu: Senior Congress leader and former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad, hinting at his retirement from politics, said that it would not be a big thing if he were retiring and starting social service, The Indian Express reported.

He said he has doubts that political parties could bring any fundamental changes while civil societies have an important role in difficult times.

Addressing an event on Sunday, he also mentioned certain other matters, including indirect reference to "The Kashmir Files", Pakistan endorsed terrorism in Kashmir valley etc.

He said that Jammu and Kashmir was marred by Pakistan-backed terrorism, for three decades, but linking terrorist activities to a particular religion is wrong. Ninety per cent of evils in the society are born out of politicians, who divide people eying the vote bank. Therefore, he doubts whether a political party could bring any change, he said, urging civil society to take the lead and mobilise people against injustice and oppression.

The only positivity of militancy in the valley was Jammu becoming a cosmopolitan city, where people of 22 districts in J&K and Ladakh live.

Further, he said that he had delivered more than 1.5 lakh speeches during his more than 47 years-spanning political career, but he was not attempting one that day. Politics in the country has deteriorated, and "I'm forced to think whether we are humans", he said.

Like Mahatma Gandhi, a faithful follower of religion would be the most secular, but a pretender is very dangerous. Society should counter the divisive narrative of any political party, whether his own or others.

Mentioning the Kathua rape incident, he said that India is still united since everyone demanded justice for the victim irrespective of their religion. He told the gathering that they had to work together to make J&K a paradise again.