The veteran and former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday at a public event bestowed Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his praises. The Congress leader stood at a stage a day before with G-23 members who questioned Gandhi’s leadership style.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was a three time Chief Minister from Jammu and Kashmir kept him side by side with the Prime Minister for whom he said, “I appreciate he doesn’t hide his true self”.
Mr Azad who had also resigned from Congress last month warned some political leaders against “living in a bubble”.
“I like a lot of things about many leaders. I’m from a village and am proud of that… I’m also proud that leaders like our Prime Minister, who used to sell tea, also come from villages. We may be rivals but I appreciate he doesn’t hide his true self,” said Mr Azad in a video.
“Those who do… are living in a bubble. A man should be proud (of who he is and where he comes from). I have travelled the world and stayed in 5-star hotels, in 7-star hotels… but when I sit with people from my village… there is a fragrance that makes it special,” added the former Congress leader.
On his retirement, the Prime Minister who also cried and struggled to speak said, “I (will) not let you retire, I will continue taking your advice. My doors are always open for you.”
Mr Azad’s praise after a day when several Congress leaders feared and said that “the Congress is getting weak” just ahead of the polls are raising doubts among many politicians.
“The truth is that we see the Congress getting weak. That is why we have gathered. We gathered earlier too and we have to strengthen the party together,” said a senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal.
After Mr Azad’s statement Sibal also asked the party members not to underestimate Mr Azad and also said, “… since he came into politics, he has played his role for the party and gained a lot of experience over the years.”
All the members who were the part of G-23 were the Congress dissenters who split Congress after all them wrote to Sonia Gadhi asking for “full time” and “visible” leadership.
