Senior Congress leaders, who assembled in Jammu in a show of strength, on Saturday, said the Group of 23 leaders wants a strong Congress, rooted in Gandhi’s principles and sees an experienced leader in Ghulam Nabi Azad.

“People say ‘G23’, I say Gandhi 23. With the belief, resolve and thinking of Mahatma Gandhi, this nation’s law and Constitution was formed. Congress is standing strongly to take these forward. ‘G23’ want Congress to be strong,” Congress leader Raj Babbar said during the party ‘Shanti Sammelan’ in Jammu.

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Other senior Congress leaders Anand Sharma, former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Kapil Sibal, and Vivek Tankha, apart from Mr. Azad, also spoke on the occasion.

“The truth is that we see Congress party getting weak. That is why we have gathered here. We had gathered together earlier too and we have to strengthen the party together,” Mr. Sibal said.

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He said Mr. Azad is an experienced person. “He flies an aeroplane. An engineer accompanies him to detect and repair any malfunctioning in the engine. Ghulam Nabi ji is experienced as well as any engineer,” Mr. Sibal said.

Stating that Mr. Azad was an leader who knew the ground reality of the Congress in every district of every State, Mr Sibal said, “We were saddened when we realised that he is being freed from Parliament. We didn’t want him to go from Parliament… I can’t understand why is Congress not using his experience.”

Mr. Azad said his party respected all religions, people and castes. “We equally respect everyone, that is our strength and we will continue with this,” he said.