As the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Jammu and Kashmir government prepare for a showdown over the hoisting of the national flag at Lal Chowk on Republic Day, party leaders from the state unit on Wednesday met a senior police officer to 'inform' him about their plans.
"We informed the police about our plans to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk on January 26 so that they can make necessary arrangements in this regard," BJP State Vice-President Chandra Prakash Ganga said after meeting Inspector General of Police S M Sahai.
BJP national president Nitin Gadkari had flagged off the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra from Kolkata on January 12. It is scheduled to culminate with the hoisting of the tricolour at Lal Chowk.
The flag hoisting plans of BJP has led to a debate in the Valley, with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah saying the BJP was trying to foment trouble in Kashmir, which has returned to normalcy after a lot of hard work.
Omar on Wednesday met Home Minister P Chidambaram to discuss the situation in the state.
The BJP's plans have also been opposed by separatist outfits, including the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front and the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference, that have described the move as 'war mongering' against Kashmiris.
Ganga said the BJP will not seek permission from the district administration or police authorities for hoisting the flag.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate of Srinagar Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo said he has not received any application seeking permission to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk.
Asserting that it does not require a no objection certificate from the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, the BJP on Wednesday said it would be better if Omar Abdullah welcomes the Ekta Yatra when it reaches the state.
"We don't need a no-objection certificate from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of the country. In fact, it would be nice if the CM welcomes the Ekta Yatra. It is his responsibility (to welcome). He is an elected representative," said BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain.
Instead of making statements on the BJP youth wing's plans to hoist the tri-colour in the Valley, Abdullah should focus on ensuring that Pakistani flags are not unfurled in the state, he said.
"The CM should let Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and JKLF chief Yasin Malik make statements on the issue and focus on ensuring that Pakistani flags are not waved in Jammu and Kashmir," Hussain said.
He said since the Congress is a partner in the Jammu and Kashmir ruling coalition, Home Minister P Chidambaram should impress upon Abdullah not to oppose the Ekta Yatra and instead help the party's youth wing hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk.
The BJP spokesperson also rejected contentions that hoisting the national flag at Lal Chowk would create tension in the Valley.
"We do not agree with the assessment. The people of Jammu and Kashmir love the Indian tricolour and our plan will not create trouble," Hussain said.
Meanwhile, BJP Yuva Morcha president Anurag Thakur asked the prime minister to explain why the government was planning an allowance for militants who had surrendered but had no money for the special police officers fighting terrorists in the state.
