Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday said he was not interested in becoming the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, dispelling “rumours” in this regard.
The former Congress leader said he was not looking for employment but wanted to serve the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I will request people not to trust the rumour mills which are working in overdrive…. There is a fresh rumour here that Ghulam Nabi Azad is going to be the next LG.”
Ghulam Nabi Azad Next Jammu And Kashmir Lt Governor? He Said…
“I have not come (to Jammu and Kashmir) looking for a job, I want to serve the people,” Ghulam Nabi Azad said while addressing a rally to mark the foundation day of his Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) which he formed last year after parting ways with the Congress.
Ghulam Nabi Azad said some people were trying to give the impression that he was looking for rehabilitation.
“When I came here in 2005 (as chief minister), I left two prized (Union) ministries – Housing and Urban Development and Parliamentary Affairs – to serve the people. It was not as if I was without work,” he said referring to criticism by some quarters that he returned to Jammu and Kashmir politics at the behest of the BJP.
Ghulam Nabi Azad said unemployment and inflation were two main problems facing Jammu and Kashmir which he wants to address by exploiting the tourism potential of the region.
“Inflation is on the rise. It is true that inflation is not specific to India. Europe has the highest inflation but they have other means to tackle it. We are a poor state.”