Ghulam Nabi Azad attacks Rahul Gandhi: ‘Seeks refuge in minority-dominated states’

Lok Sabha elections: Ghulam Nabi Azad alleged that Rahul Gandhi shows "reluctance" in engaging in direct confrontations.

Updated on: Apr 18, 2024, 08:53:21 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad claimed on Wednesday that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi didn't want to contest the Lok Sabha elections from BJP-ruled states. Referring to the MP's nomination from Kerala's Wayanad, the former Congress leader saidRahul Gandhi seeks refuge in minority-dominated states.

Democratic Progressive Azad Party chief Ghulam Nabi Azad addresses a public meeting ahead of Lok Sabha elections, at Banihal in Ramban district. (PTI file photo)

Ghulam Nabi Azad, who quit the Congress in 2022, called Rahul Gandhi and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah “spoon-fed kids”. He said they have done nothing on their own.

He refuted the Congress' claims that Rahul Gandhi was putting up a brave fight against the BJP.

Also read: Rahul Gandhi claims Modi interview scripted: ‘PM is champion of corruption’

"Why is Rahul Gandhi hesitant to contest in the BJP-ruled states? While 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?" Azad said while addressing public meetings in Sangaldan, Ukhral areas of the Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency.

Rahul Gandhi lost the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Amethi but won from Wayanad. On Wednesday, when asked whether he would contest the polls from his family's former stronghold, he said he would do what the party decides.

Ghulam Nabi Azad accused Rahul Gandhi of showing "reluctance" in engaging in direct confrontations and a "tendency to seek out safe seats" where minority populations are sizable.

Attacking Gandhi and Abdullah, he said they have never made any personal sacrifices.

"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.

"Abdullah is campaigning in the Chenab valley against the DPAP, not the BJP. He has been tasked to divide the secular votes. He did nothing for his own constituency," he claimed.

Ghulam Nabi Azad quit the Congress in 2022 after being sidelined. In a five-page letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi, Ghulam Nabi Azad had said the situation in the Congress had reached a point of “no return”.

"The entire organisational election process is a farce and a sham. At no place anywhere in the country have elections been held at any level of the organisation. Handpicked lieutenants of the AICC have been coerced to sign on lists prepared by the coterie that runs the AICC sitting in 24 Akbar Road," Azad had written.

Voting for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections will start tomorrow. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.

With inputs from PTI

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.