<div>Newly appointed in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Congress, Ghulam Nabi Azad, on Thursday accused the BJP of trying to “foment” communal passion and create a “Gujarat-like situation” in UP.<br /><br />Speaking to reporters here, Azad, who replaced Congress general secretary Madhusudan Mistry as the state in-charge, also hinted that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could step out of Amethi and Raebareli to campaign for the party in the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state due early next year. “We have to fight the communal forces. The Congress does not indulge in politics of religion...we are for maintaining the secular fabric of the country,” he said.<br /><br />War of words<br /><br />Azad said that the BJP wanted to foment communal passion in the state to gain political mileage. The former union minister also said that Rahul Gandhi could assume the charge of the party in the very near future but added that party chief Sonia Gandhi would remain their undisputed leader. He said that the Congress would take up cudgels on behalf of the farmers and the weaker sections of the society and fight for them. <br /><br />Earlier, Azad was accorded a rousing reception upon his arrival here after becoming the state in-charge. A large number of banners and hoardings had been put up from the airport to the party headquarters here by party workers.<br /><br />UP Congress chief Nirmal Khatri was, however, absent during Azad’s meeting with the state party leaders fuelling speculations that he was sulking following reports of his ouster.<br /><br />Other constituencies<br /><br />He also said that Priyanka could campaign for the party in constituencies other than Amethi and Raebareli.<br /></div>
<div>Newly appointed in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Congress, Ghulam Nabi Azad, on Thursday accused the BJP of trying to “foment” communal passion and create a “Gujarat-like situation” in UP.<br /><br />Speaking to reporters here, Azad, who replaced Congress general secretary Madhusudan Mistry as the state in-charge, also hinted that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could step out of Amethi and Raebareli to campaign for the party in the forthcoming Assembly polls in the state due early next year. “We have to fight the communal forces. The Congress does not indulge in politics of religion...we are for maintaining the secular fabric of the country,” he said.<br /><br />War of words<br /><br />Azad said that the BJP wanted to foment communal passion in the state to gain political mileage. The former union minister also said that Rahul Gandhi could assume the charge of the party in the very near future but added that party chief Sonia Gandhi would remain their undisputed leader. He said that the Congress would take up cudgels on behalf of the farmers and the weaker sections of the society and fight for them. <br /><br />Earlier, Azad was accorded a rousing reception upon his arrival here after becoming the state in-charge. A large number of banners and hoardings had been put up from the airport to the party headquarters here by party workers.<br /><br />UP Congress chief Nirmal Khatri was, however, absent during Azad’s meeting with the state party leaders fuelling speculations that he was sulking following reports of his ouster.<br /><br />Other constituencies<br /><br />He also said that Priyanka could campaign for the party in constituencies other than Amethi and Raebareli.<br /></div>
