Congress Leaders Pay Tributes to Indira Gandhi, Accuse BJP of Undermining Democracy in J&K

Paying rich tributes to the first woman prime minister of the country, Indira Gandhi on her 108th birth anniversary today here in a rally, AICC General Secretary in-charge J&K Affairs and MP, Dr Sayeed Naseer Hussain said that great leaders like Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru and Indira cannot be born again in this country, who led the nation with great dynamism, vision and boldness.

Addressing a gathering of Congress leaders and workers here, AICC General Secretary said that every prime minister wanted to compete with the leadership and dynamism of Pt Nehru and Indira Gandhi including Prime Minister Modi but no one can match their leadership qualities, strength, vision and contributions for the country.

Praising Indira Gandhi for her contributions and leadership qualities, Dr Naseer said that she was known as 'Iron lady' in the world for her qualities of leadership, dynamism and boldness.

Hitting out at BJP for their divisive policies, he said that earlier BJP used to win by ‘vote chori’ methods like in Maharashtra, Haryana and elsewhere and now using Election Commission to win elections like Bihar, where women were bribed of Rs 10,000 by launching a new cash for vote scheme during elections.

First time in the history of India, such a method was used by the government to launch the scheme in the midst of elections and the Election Commission remained silent while 65 lakh voters were removed from voter list in Bihar while 75 lakh voters were added in Maharashtra between Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, he noted.

Welcoming senior leaders and former ministers Jugal Kishore Sharma and Majid Wani and Ex-MLC Subash Gupta alongwith their supporters into the party, AICC General Secretary said that Congress will be strengthened by their coming back in their respective areas and overall in the UT and asserted that Congress has to be further strengthened in J&K to stand on its own legs.

He said that every party has to be strong enough to contest elections on its own strength and likewise Congress has to do the same here also, for which all necessary steps shall be taken in coming days so that it emerges further stronger.

He said that statehood is the right of people of J&K and its genuine right of the people to their land, jobs and resources which are available to the people in different states of the country under the Constitution of India, regretting that people of J&K have been stripped off their statehood and other genuine democratic rights by BJP.

Addressing the gathering, J&K PCC President Tariq Hameed Karra recalled the dynamic and bold leadership of Indira Gandhi who refused to bow to the dictates of then US President in 1971 while referring to the alleged “surrender” of Prime Minister Narender Modi before US in recent times.

Karra welcomed the new entrants into the party and said that the party shall benefit enormously by their joining adding our doors are open to ideological supporters to fight ideological battles against BJP and to secure the genuine rights of people of J&K.

He said that Jammu and Kashmir is the ideological battlefield for both Congress and BJP in the country, adding that BJP is using J&K issues for their politics in the rest of the country.

He referred to various programmes launched by the party in one year to highlight the issues of the people of J&K especially restoration of statehood which was promised long ago.

AICC General Secretary and CLP Leader G A Mir paid tributes to Indira Gandhi and said that every Indian is proud of her contributions and bold leadership.

She strengthened the unity and integrity of the nation till last breath and took revolutionary steps in every field.