Should Indian Flag unfurl in Lal Chowk?
By siliconindia   |   Monday, 24 January 2011, 16:25 IST
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Should Indian Flag unfurl in Lal Chowk?
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Yuva Morcha an activist group of BJP has decided to hoist the Indian flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on the 26th of January. This action has brought in a lot of tension among political leaders as it will challenge the separatists. The separatists have called for a counter-march on January 26th. According to Manmohan Singh BJP leaders are using the occasion to score points and promote divisive agendas. J&k Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has also shown disconcern over the BJP's Eka Yatra. He warned that he would not allow any activist group to vitiate the atmosphere, be it the BJP's Bharatiya Yuva Morcha or the separatists. Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for opposing its proposed flag hoisting at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the BJP on Sunday accused the Centre and the state government of "surrendering" to separatists. "The government has arrested the members of Bharatiya Yuva Morcha. They have sealed all border points in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent their entry. This is unacceptable and undemocratic," senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on the issue on Saturday, senior BJP leader L K Advani voiced hope that he would realise that BJP Yuva Morcha activists were "not trying to score a political point" but were instead challenging the separatists. Describing the "crackdown" by the state government as a "panic reaction", he said the actions were "even more shameful as the UPA government took no action against various groups of separatists who had gone to New Delhi a few months back and openly spoke of dividing a particular state and about sedition. "We have to maintain law and order and it is applicable to all groups. No matter which group they come from implication will be on law and order," said Kuldeep Khoda, Deputy General of Police, J&K.Although Although there is support for separatist call in Srinagar, there is a fear that the political tug of war over flag hoisting may precipitate instability once again. "No disrespect to the Indian flag, but there is a sentiment of Kashmiri nationalism, and when jingoist nationalism is thrusted down their throats by the BJP, separatists are bound to respond," said a local resident.

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