After voicing dissent, Bhupinder Singh Hooda says ‘will leave politics’ if party asks

Former Haryana Chief Minister and Congress leader, Bhupinder Singh Hooda day after criticising his own party over stand on Article 370 on Monday said he will leave politics if asked to do so. “A committee will be formed in a day or two. Convenor will call a meeting after the committee is formed. I will do what the committee will say, if it asks me to leave politics, I will leave politics as well,” news agency ANI quoted Hooda as saying.

Hooda on Sunday at a rally in Rohtak had said, "When the government does something right, I support them. Many of my colleagues opposed the decision… my party has lost its way, it’s not the same Congress it used to be."

"When it comes to patriotism and self-respect, I’ll not compromise with anyone," Hooda said while addressing the 'Parivartan Maha Rally'.

"I was born in a patriotic family, those who oppose (abrogation of Article370), I want to tell them "usulon par jahan aanch aaye, vahan takrana zaruri hai, jo zinda hai to zinda dikhna zaruri hai", he said.

The rally was held to dislodge the "corrupt and non-performing" M L Khattar government in the upcoming assembly election.

Earlier, his son and former Congress MP Deepender Hooda also supported Centre’s recent decisions on Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, teachers reported to work in many schools in Kashmir as restrictions were eased further on Monday but not many students were seen.

Officials said the government has made necessary arrangements for opening of 190 primary schools in Srinagar city as security forces remained deployed in most of the Valley.

But all private schools in the city remained shut for the 15^th consecutive day as parents were apprehensive about the security situation in view of violent protests over the past two days. Only Police Public School at Bemina and a few Kendriya Vidyalayas saw a handful of students turning up.

“There is so much uncertainty in the situation that sending kids to school at this stage is out of question,” Farooq Ahmad Dar, a parent, said.

Officials in Baramulla district said schools in five towns remained closed. In the rest of the district, schools were opened, they said.

“There is no relaxation in restrictions in Pattan, Palhalan, Singhpora, Baramulla and Sopore towns. Primary schools in the rest of the district are open. We are collecting details about the number of students who have reported at their respective schools,” an official said.

A senior Srinagar district official said a few schools on the periphery were opened but in the old city and in civil lines areas, they remained shut due to violence over the past two days.