JAMMU, July 25: Veteran politician and Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Chairman, Ghulam Nabi Azad, has cautioned against using the demand for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood for personal or political mileage. Speaking candidly to media persons at his Jammu residence, the former Chief Minister emphasized that any political movement or protest on such a sensitive and significant issue must be rooted in genuine public interest and aimed at achieving the actual goal—restoration of full statehood to the Union Territory.
Azad, who served in various top positions during his long association with the Congress party before launching his own political outfit, was responding to questions regarding the Congress party’s recent protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. While asserting that the right to peaceful protest is fundamental in a democracy, he cautioned that such demonstrations must not be reduced to tools of self-promotion or opportunistic positioning. “Protests should not be an exercise in symbolism or a quest for media attention. If the objective is to truly restore statehood, then the efforts must be sincere, strategic, and aimed at results,” he remarked.
The DPAP chief pointed out that political actions surrounding statehood seem to fall into two categories: one aimed at earning symbolic recognition, and the other veiled attempts at personal or political gains. “Unfortunately, this recent protest appears to lean more towards political theatrics rather than meaningful engagement. The appropriate time for such demonstrations has passed. What is required now is serious dialogue,” Azad said, alluding to what he believes should have been the priority for the Congress and other stakeholders.
Azad further noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has, on the floor of Parliament, reiterated the commitment to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood. In such a context, Azad said, initiating formal dialogue with the BJP leadership would have been a more prudent and result-oriented approach rather than staging protests without groundwork. “Political maturity demands that before agitations are launched, serious efforts are made to engage through institutional and parliamentary channels,” he advised.
When asked about recent speculation suggesting his name might be in consideration for the post of Vice President of India, following the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, Azad dismissed the reports outright. “These are baseless rumours. I have no knowledge of who is spreading them or for what purpose. Such high constitutional offices are not filled based on media buzz or random speculation. The nation has many senior, capable leaders who are eligible for such a role. It’s not something that gets decided through whispers or wishful thinking,” he said firmly.