Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and Congress insurgent Ghulam Nabi Azad’s memoir, titled ‘Azaad’, paperwork politics over the previous 5 many years. Providing a ringside view to the corridors of energy, Azad is vital of his former celebration in his memoir, describing its behaviour as “bloopers and bombast”. In a dialog with Sunetra Choudhury, he argued that whereas senior BJP leaders wish to see competitors from a powerful Congress celebration, the latter isn’t doing sufficient. Azad, who’s seen to be near PM Narendra Modi, additionally spoke concerning the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Edited excerpts:

Do you contemplate your self an opposition chief?

I don’t assume I’ve reached that stage as a result of I need to win some seats first within the state to say to be within the opposition. I can say my voice will likely be completely impartial. I cannot work on preconceived issues. I’ll name a spade, a spade. Whatever is nice, I’ll recognize. Whatever is unhealthy, I’ll oppose. Whatever is within the curiosity of the nation, I need to recognize as a countryman, and no matter just isn’t within the curiosity of the nation, I’ll positively oppose, whosoever she or he could also be, which political celebration, regardless of what their ideology could also be.

Does that make you one thing like what the YSR Congress Party and Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal are? Everybody else other than these two events is vital of the BJP.

I feel it can’t be in contrast with any of them. My concepts will not be regimented. My concepts are completely open. I’m completely unbiased. That’s why my final title is Azad (free). My celebration can be named Azad and my ebook can be ‘Azaad’. I don’t need reverse events to be referred to as as enemies. We are simply opponents.

You reward Narendra Modi but in addition level out he didn’t speak about his international journeys inside Parliament…

He was all the time very pleasant. As Prime Minister, to some extent, I need to say, no matter his notion outdoors could also be, just isn’t the identical. I feel he’s broad minded in that sense. I by no means attended his official perform, I by no means spared him on the ground of the House. Yet he was so beneficiant in praising me. I feel this all people can’t do. And I discovered some similarity in him with AB Vajpayee.

So, in line with you, Modi is an efficient Prime Minister?

I might say so. I’m no one to provide judgment however my private expertise is that every time he would meet me within the foyer, he by no means mentioned that Congress needs to be completed. In reality, he mentioned that an alternate nationwide celebration ought to exist. He would say how lengthy will we proceed and also you individuals are not doing sufficient. I’m quoting this for the primary time and I feel that was the opinion of many of the BJP leaders who’re senior there. Senior leaders need that Congress, which has a historical past, must also survive and grow to be a competitor. But Congress itself just isn’t prepared to simply accept that. How can we blame others?

We simply noticed Rahul Gandhi getting disqualified and he has been requested to vacate his residence.

I don’t approve of that. That’s not factor in democracy. That just isn’t a good suggestion. Moreover, he needs to be given a home from a safety perspective. Because with Z-plus safety, one just isn’t alleged to be in a crowded space. The authorities could take the cash, however the safety needs to be performed.

In your celebration, there are those that allege that since you’ve grow to be near the BJP, you’re allowed to remain on in authorities lodging two years after retirement.

I pay each month. I pay hire, I pay water payments, I pay electrical energy. If I take the home in some crowded space, individuals will know there’s a comfortable goal. We Kashmiris have extra risk.

Regarding Kashmir, I need to come to the episode you describe in your ebook about what occurred submit the abrogation of Article 370. You mentioned that you just instantly went and sat on a dharna in Rajya Sabha however individuals like Jairam Ramesh, your colleague, didn’t. What occurred?

I don’t assume he thought it match. Perhaps he was within the favour of the abrogation of Article 370. Everybody mentioned that he remained in his seat.

So Article 370 concern continues to be one issue that you’ve got towards the BJP?

No. There could also be different issues. Any rule or any political celebration who’s in energy, you’ll be able to’t say that they’re doing all the pieces good, however you’ll be able to’t additionally say that they’re doing all the pieces unhealthy. And it’s with every political celebration in authorities. The good and unhealthy, they go collectively.