Team Herald
PANJIM: The veteran Congress leaders in the State on Friday reacted on a sober note to former Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad resigning from the primary membership of the grand old party.
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Former Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane said, “He (Azad) must be having some genuine reasons for quitting the party. He was a loyal worker of the Congress Party and I had the opportunity to work with him. I wonder why he had taken this decision and I didn’t expect him to do that.”
Rane was elected 11 consecutive times and had served as Chief Minister of the State for the highest six times.
Former Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament John Fernandes said that it was too late for Azad to raise a banner of revolt against the Congress Party, which has been decimated across the country.
“Where was he (Azad) till now when good people like former minister Kapil Sibal quit the party long back? Possibly Azad was annoyed for permitting former minister and CWC member Ambika Soni to unfurl the national flag at the AICC headquarters, Delhi on the 75th Independence Day in the absence of AICC interim President Sonia Gandhi.”
Former minister and Nuvem MLA Aleixo Sequeira said that he had the privilege of interacting with Azad on a couple of occasions. “He (Azad) was a strong leader and it is a pity that he resigned from the party. Otherwise, he stood with the Congress Party through thick and thin.”
Sequeira also recalled that in the past the AICC had deputed Azad as party observer for Goa to elect the leader of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP).
Former Union Minister Ramakant Khalap too appeared dismayed at senior party leader Azad quitting the organisation.
In his reaction, Khalap said, “It is unfortunate. Why is he (Azad) doing that? He was a pillar of strength.”
