Even Mahatma Gandhi did not stay untouched with industrialists in the pre-independence era, Ghulam Nabi Azad said, taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi’s repeated attacks on industrialist Gautam Adani.
In an exclusive interview with NewsX, former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “Even Mahatma Gandhi, a man whose dignity, integrity and simplicity was highly talked about, could not stay untouched with industrialists and stayed in guest houses of industrialists like Birla whenever he visited Delhi. The industry’s relation with politics has been there since pre-independence and is generational. Even Indira Gandhi had a good connection with Dhiru Bhai Ambani.”
“Not all industrialists are corrupt and all they have today is there due to their sweat and blood,” he added.
Talking about the present day politics, he said, “All major parties like Congress, BJP are supported and backed by industrialists. Where does Congress draw all its funds from? Even Congress-ruled states like Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh give business to Adani. Their Chief Ministers support Adani on public stage.”
After leaving the Congress, Azad founded his own political party, the Democratic Progressive Azad Party, in his home state of Jammu and Kashmir. He has now written a book titled ‘Azaad: An Autobiography,’ in which he discusses his working relationships with Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others. He also emphasises situations, events, and mismanagement within the Congress party.
