Ghulam Nabi Azad still availing privileges: Patole

Nagpur: Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Nana Patole on Wednesday questioned how certain privileges were still being availed by his former senior party colleague Ghulam Nabi Azad, even though he is no longer a member of Parliament.
“When I resigned as MP, within 24 hours they cut off power and water supply to my (official) residence,” said Patole in the city and added, “but the respected leader (Azad) is not a member of the house anymore and, yet he has Z-plus security, possession of the bungalow.”
Then without taking any names, Patole said, “(Azad) even mentioned that someone has humanity. And he took the name of the person, with whose blessings all this is happening.” On Monday, Azad had said that he earlier thought of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “crude”, but Modi “showed humanity”.
Patole said, “Regardless, we don’t want to talk about people who are not there in the party anymore. It’s more important to discuss issues facing the country, like unemployment and inflation.”
Closer home, the Sakoli MLA has another challenge to tackle with former CM Prithviraj Chavhan too expressing his unhappiness with the party. Patole said, “It’s very difficult to know what is the reason for someone’s unhappiness. Only the people concerned are aware of it. But as the state president of Congress party, all I can say is that issues should be discussed with the high command and they will be sorted out. Things should not be discussed in public like this.”
Patole said that on September 4, Congress will launch an agitation against inflation. “Under the leadership of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, Congress will be highlighting the real issues before the country. Unemployment is high. Prices of commodities are rising by the day. We want the people to be aware of these issues and, hence, the party will fight for the people,” said Patole.