Jammu: The BJP's youth wing on Friday said
there was "no change" in its plan to hoist the tricolour at
Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day despite the J-K
government warning that it will not allow any programme that
vitiates the atmosphere in the state.
"We will go ahead with Rashtriya Ekta Yatra to Kashmir
and hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk on Republic Day even
as Omar government has decided to stop us," Bhartiya Janta
Yuva Morcha (BJYM) general secretary and Patna MLA Nitin
Naveen said at a press conference here.
Accusing Chief Minister Omar Abduallah of "siding"
with separatists, the BJYM demanded his resignation.
"Omar has taken oath under this national flag. And now
he is disrespecting it. He should resign. We invite him as
well as Prime Minister to come and take part in this
movement," Naveen said, adding "it is hoisting of the national
flag and not the BJP party flag".
"There is no change in the programme. We are not going
to stop short of hoisting tricolour at Lal Chowk, where
national flag was disrespected during the 2010 summer
agitation. We want to restore sanctity of the tricolour at the
same venue," he said.
The Chief Minister today refused to comment on the
flag hoisting issue.
"I cannot comment on this issue. Police have been
directed in this regard and you have been issued a press
statement yesterday," Omar said at a book release function
here.
Naveen claimed that "there is no opposition from civil
society and general public from Kashmir Valley".
"The statement of Omar is unfortunate. He is stopping
a movement for unity and integrity of the country and
nationalism. His statement reflects the separatists' point of
view," the lawmaker alleged.
He criticised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA
chairperson Sonia Gandhi for "allowing Omar to stop hoisting
tricolour at Lal Chowk."
"Come what may, we will hoist the tricolour at all
costs," the BJP leader said.
During a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister
Omar Abdullah yesterday, it was decided that no programme
which has the potential of vitiating the peaceful atmosphere
in J&K will be allowed, an official spokesman said here last
night.
The state government directed the administrative and
police officials to ensure that all measures are taken so that
the law and order in the state is not disturbed in the run up
to the Republic Day.
PTI
First Published: Friday, January 21, 2011, 19:15