Under criticism, Azad puts gag order on leaders ‘Don’t make personal attacks against leaders of other parties’

Srinagar, May 17: Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has issued a gag order on leaders of his newly formed Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) after facing criticism over their statements. In a circular, Ghulam Nabi Azad has directed party leaders that they should desist from speaking ill or making any personal attack against leaders of any other political parties. “No spokesperson will speak to the media on any sensitive or controversial issue without the permission of general secretary Incharge of media RS Chib and chief spokesperson Salman Nizami”, Azad said. Azad further said that no leader, spokesperson or any individual of DPAP shall speak against or disrespect the sentiments of SC/ST or any other caste, region or religion as well as against any social or political organisation. The move to put gag on leaders comes after a spokesperson of DPAP made racial comments against tribals, evoking widespread criticism from different quarters. Azad said that during the past few years, political scenario and thinking at national and state level has totally changed and the mutual respect and regard which existed earlier for the leaders of other political parties has totally disappeared. “It has generally been seen that both leaders and spokespersons of different political parties resort to mudslinging and sometimes not only use foul and unparliamentarily language but also resort to abusive language,” reads the circular. He further said that lack of mutual respect and regard has lowered the image of the leaders in the eyes of the public and society as a whole and the respect and confidence leaders enjoyed earlier does not exist anymore.