The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi saying he has put up a “brave fight” against the Bharatiya Janata Party and his party, Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP), but said he is “hesitant” to contest from the BJP-ruled states.
According to Azad, Rahul Gandhi has only contested for states with a considerably high minority population. Additionally, the Rajya Sabha Minister referred to Gandhi and National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah as “spoon-fed kids” rather than politicians, PTI reported.
While addressing public meetings in Sangaldan, Ukhral areas of the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency, he said, “Why is Rahul Gandhi hesitant to contest in the BJP-ruled states? While Rahul Gandhi claims to be fighting the BJP, his actions suggest otherwise. Why fly from the BJP-ruled states and seek refuge in minority-dominated ones?”
During his campaign in support of G M Saroori, Azad voiced criticism towards Congress’s approach. He denounced what he perceived as a “reluctance” to engage in direct confrontations and a “tendency to seek out safe seats” where minority populations are sizeable.
Azad questioned the party’s dedication to confronting the BJP on the ground, particularly highlighting their choice of seats in states like Kerala.
Azad, previously closely associated with the Nehru-Gandhi family and a part of the grang-old party, expressed discontent with the leadership of figures like Gandhi and Abdullah, labelling them as “spoon-fed kids” rather than seasoned politicians.
“They have not made personal sacrifices in life and are merely enjoying political legacies inherited from figures like Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Abdullah. Both have done nothing on their own,” he added.
Furthermore, Azad accused Abdullah of neglecting his own constituency’s interests, alleging that his campaign in the Chenab valley was aimed at dividing secular votes rather than directly opposing the BJP.
(With PTI inputs)