Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emotional appreciation for the outgoing Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has shifted the focus of Kashmir politics onto the veteran Congress leader.
Azad, who was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir between 2005 and 2008 is being seen as the best bet on the vexed issue by political pundits and politicians, alike.
A few days before his farewell, Azad had asked the Parliament to table a bill for the restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, Azad said Modi is the only person who can find a solution to the problems of Jammu and Kashmir.
Also Read | Thankful to PM for those words: Ghulam Nabi Azad recalls Modi's emotional speech on his farewell
Two days after both Houses of Parliament cleared the reading down of Article 370 and the reorganisation of the state of Jammu and Kashmir into two separate Union Territories on August 5, 2019, Modi, in a televised address to the nation had promised that at some point statehood would be restored to J&K, something that Azad recently demanded.
While bidding a tearful farewell to Azad on February 9 in the Upper House, the Prime Minister said that he respects the Congress leader as a “true friend” and will not let him retire, and will continue taking his advice.
Azad is known to have certain views on Article 370 and almost all the outstanding issues being faced in Jammu and Kashmir. The Congress veteran also congratulated the Modi government for conducting District Development Council (DDC) elections successfully.
“The BJP government has achieved its aim of scrapping Article 370 and now wants democratic process to flourish in J&K. There can’t be anybody better than Azad to lead the process at the moment,” political analyst and TV debater Majid Hyderi told DH.
He said as the chief minister Azad had set a benchmark of good governance in J&K. “In the last two years, the BJP tried to support some individuals to take the centre stage of J&K politics, but as they lack credibility the experiment failed. When the PM said he will continue to take advice from Azad, he gave enough hints as to what is expected to come,” Hyderi added.
A senior J&K Congress leader wishing anonymity said that Azad enjoys the support of most of the leadership in J&K. “Jammu region, where the Congress party’s vote bank lies, has no issues with scrapping of Article 370. (But) people in Jammu want restoration of statehood and some guarantees on jobs and land rights which is something Azad sahib has demanded,” he said.
There are unconfirmed reports that the Centre wants to hold elections in J&K sometime later this year as the Delimitation Commission set up in March 2020 is set to complete the process in next few months.