Srinagar: On Sunday, former Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad praised Prime Minister Modi while addressing a function by Gujjar Desh Charitable Trust. Azad said that PM Modi doesn't hide his past from the world and speaks about being a tea seller frankly.
He said "I like a lot of things about many leaders. I'm from a village & feel proud... Even our PM hails from village & used to sell tea. We're political rivals but I appreciate that he doesn't hide his true self. Those who do, are living in a bubble."
In February, during the Congress MP’s farewell in the Upper House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi heaped praise on the Congress veteran for his efforts to rescue the people of Gujarat once stuck in a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which eight people had been killed.
"I will never forget Shri Azad’s efforts and Shri Pranab Mukherjee’s efforts when people from Gujarat were stuck in Kashmir due to a terror attack. Ghulam Nabi Ji was constantly following up, he sounded as concerned as if those stuck were his own family members," PM Modi said.
While addressing the 'Shanti Sammelan', the group of Congress leaders like Kapil Sibal, Manish Tewari, Anand Sharma, Bhupinder Hooda, Raj Babbar among others joined Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the Congress party was getting weaker in the country and they have seen the party stronger in the past.
Joining the event, Raj Babbar said "People say we are a part of G-23; for me, it's Gandhi 23. With the belief, resolve, and thinking of Mahatma Gandhi, this nation's law and Constitution was formed. Congress is standing strongly to take these forward. 'G-23' want Congress to be strong."
Azad asserted that the grand-old party respects all religions, people, and castes. "Be it Jammu or Kashmir or Ladakh, we respect all religions, people, and castes. We equally respect everyone, that is our strength and we will continue with this," Congress veteran who recently retired from Parliament after four decades said.
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