In a big boost for the Congress ahead of Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra’s entry into Jammu & Kashmir on January 20, at least 17 leaders of the Democratic Azad Party (DAP) floated by Ghulab Nabi Azad returned to the Congress fold on Friday.
Ex-deputy chief minister Tara Chand and ex-PCC chief Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed were among those who returned to the grand old party.
Welcoming the leaders and calling it a happy day for the party, AICC general secretary KC Venugopal said, “The Bharat Jodo Yatra has become a big movement in the country and that is why all these leaders have decided to come back to the Congress fold. This is only a beginning and when the Yatra enters J&K, all people with Congress ideology and who want a united India will join the party. I think they had gone on a leave for two months.”
Asked whether there are any talks with Azad to return to the Congress fold, Venugopal said he has himself denied any such talks. On whether Azad has been invited for the Yatra, he said, “Those who believe in the Congress ideology are welcome to join the Bharat Jodo Yatra.”
Last week at a Press conference when Rahul Gandhi was asked about Azad’s rejoining, he took a swipe at the former Congress veteran and said “Kabhi ander, kabhi bahar”.
“A total of 19 leaders were to join today, but 17 were able to come to Delhi and join today. This is the first phase and others will also join soon,” Congress chief spokesman Jairam Ramesh said.
Asked about the reasons to quit the Congress, Tara Chand said, “We got carried away by emotions and friendship and quit the party in haste”. On why they rejoined, he said, “We were not comfortable” in DAP as we have spent 50 years of our life in the Congress and realised our mistake.”
Peerzada said there is a need to strengthen and unite all secular forces in Jammu & Kashmir, where terrorism has increased instead of decreasing in the last eight years.