Srinagar, July 7
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned without facing the confidence vote in the state Legislative Assembly here today. After seeking Speaker’s permission to withdraw the confidence motion, he drove to Raj Bhawan to submit his resignation to Governor N.N. Vohra. Vohra accepted the resignations of Azad and his Council of Ministers and asked him to continue till alternate arrangements were made.
During his 80-minute-long emotionally charged speech in the Assembly, Azad dwelt upon the achievements of his government after taking over as the Chief Minister on November 2, 2005, for a three-year term as part of the coalition arrangement with the PDP, led by Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. His resignation comes only months ahead of the Assembly elections due to be held in the state after the completion of six-year term later this year.
Referring to the Amarnath land transfer issue, Azad said those spearheading the agitation did not know the facts about the land, but were only carrying it for the sake of electoral gains.
He also did not spare those behind trouble in Jammu over the past nine days. He cautioned people against such forces, who were responsible for creating trouble and dared the politicians to be humans first and politicians later. He cautioned against the separatist forces, who were making castles on the graves of poor youth.
Azad said he worked for about 20 hours a day and was able to listen to radio only once and watch TV only three times during the past two and a half years. “I am satisfied with my performance during this period,” he commented and added that there had been a considerable decline in the killings. There are no custodial deaths or disappearances now since we gave a signal to the police and security forces,” when Ganderbal fake encounter case was unearthed and those concerned punished.
