Not contesting under pressure: Azad

Srinagar, Apr 3: Chairman Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad today said that he is not contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Anantnag-Rajouri-Poonch constituency due to some pressure from any quarter but he wants to lead his part from the front.

He was addressing a press conference here. National Conference (NC) Vice President Omar Abdullah had today said that maybe Azad decided to contest due to some pressure.

“Some political leaders said that I took the decision under some pressure. But I want to make it clear that I did not do so under pressure. I am a fighter and want to lead from the front. I will not tell other party leaders to contest and will myself stay away. I will contest, lead from the front and raise the morale of my party leaders,” he said.

Azad stated that the second reason for contesting is to fight in Parliament for what has been snatched from the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “Our statehood was snatched. J&K was made a union territory. Article 370 and Article 35-A were snatched. This was like a political lightened.

I sat on dharna in Parliament for four long hours against the central government's decisions. Later I made a series of speeches in Parliament against government decisions. Then Prime Minister and Home Minister assured statehood for J&K,” he said.

Azad added that this struggle has to be carried forward and has not reached to its logical conclusion. “Now it is being said that J&K would get statehood like that of Delhi or Pondicherry. But this is not acceptable to us as the state government would not have enough power. For that, I want to go to Parliament and fight for that. If we are able to get full statehood then our other rights will get restored,” he said.