Several J&K leaders from Ghulam Nabi Azad's party rejoin Congress

Jairam Ramesh Ramesh slams 'GNA' for 'change' in stance on Article 370 abrogation.

More than 20 leaders from Jammu and Kashmir, most of them from Ghulam Nabi Azad's Democratic Progressive Azad Party, joined the Congress in the presence of party chief Mallikarjun Kharge here on Monday.

Kharge said the Congress party in Jammu and Kashmir is being strengthened day by day.

"We welcome several prominent leaders who joined us today. It is an indication of how the people of Jammu and Kashmir want Jammu & Kashmir Congress to take lead in addressing their issues and usher peace and progress," the Congress president tweeted.

The party also attacked Azad, saying "Mr GNA himself gives new evidence of his DNA mutation by saying 'those opposing Article 370 abrogation ignorant of the situation on the ground'."

"This from a man who led the charge against the abrogation in the Rajya Sabha on Aug 5 2019! I suppose he needs to justify the very generous extension given to him to continue staying in his sprawling bungalow in New Delhi, long after he has exited Parliament," Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said.

"Earlier this morning, 21 J&K leaders from DAP (Disappearing Azad Party) rejoined the Congress, including one who filed a defamation case against me on behalf of Ghulam Nabi Azad," Ramesh said.

Congress president Kharge, AICC general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal, AICC in-charge of state Rajani Patil and Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Vikar Rasool Wani were also present on the occasion.

"The INC family is growing from strength to strength in Jammu & Kashmir! Today, 21 leaders from various parties joined the Congress fold in the presence of INC President Sh. Mallikarjun Kharge ji, AICC In-Charge Rajani Patil ji, and J&K PCC President Sh. Vikar Rasool Wani ji," Venugopal tweeted, along with photos of the joining-in at Kharge's residence.

Yashpal Kundal, an ex-minister, a two-time legislator from the Panthers Party and chief of the SC/ST and OBC wing of the AAP in J-K was also among those who joined the Congress.

Haji Abdul Rashid Dar, a former vice president of the JKPCC who later joined Azad's party, too returned to the Congress fold.

Naresh K Gupta (DPAP), Sham Lal Bhagat (DPAP), Namrata Sharma (Apni Party), Saima Jan (DPAP), Shahjehan Dar (DPAP), Farooq Ahmad (AAP), Taranjit Singh Toni, Gazanfar Ali, Santosh Majotra (DPAP), Rajni Sharma (DPAP), Nirmal Singh Mehta (DPAP), Madan Lal Chalotra (APNI Party), Hamit Singh Batti (AAP), Ramesh Pandotra (AAP), Vaid Raj Sharma (AAP), Mandeep Chowdhary (AAP), Nazir Ahmed Auqab, Maheshvar Vishwakarma and Jung Bahadur Sharma (DPAP) joined the Congress.

Several leaders, who had left the Congress to join Azad's party after he quit the grand old party and formed his own outfit, have rejoined the Congress since then.