Mir made the remark during a meeting at the party headquarters here to pay respect to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the 31st anniversary of his death, according to a party official.
Senior AICC leader and former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also attended the meeting, amid speculations that he would be given a key role in the upcoming assembly elections later this year. Azad’s followers, including numerous former ministers and legislators, have already expressed their displeasure with Mir, calling for his ouster in addition to making Azad the party’s chief ministerial candidate in J&K.
“It is time to repay the party and strengthen it, as the nation requires. As determined in the Udaipur Chintan Shivar, party leaders should put their self-interest aside and work to develop the party “Mir addressed the condolence meeting.
He declared that a similar ‘Shivar’ of J&K Congress leaders will be held on June 1 and 2 at Patni top in Udhampur district to examine the party’s strengthening strategy.
In his talk, Azad urged party cadres to struggle for peace and harmony, as well as to develop the party in order to combat “communal and divisive forces” and reject “hate politics.”
“The strength of the nation resides in its unity in variety,” Azad said, adding that the Congress and its leadership have always advocated religious fraternity and harmony in society because “Hindu-Muslim-Sikh unity is very crucial for the strength of our pluralistic nation.” Minister on various fronts, especially in the field of science and technology and the Panchayat Raj system in the country.
