news details |
|
|
| Hoisting tricolour in Lal chowk may not silence separatists | | | | Ever since the rise of Pakistan backed militancy in Jammu and Kashmir political leaders besides separatists and extremists have been seen getting engaged in giving symbolic expression to their pent up feelings. During the last six months, though it is not a new phenomenon, separatists and their supporters were seen waving Pakistani flags during rallies to be addressed by top Hurriyat leaders. They were heard shouting pro-Pakistan slogans. And right from 1991 the pro-India forces too have been seen giving symbolic expression to their wishful thinking. And the tradition for airing pro-nationalist views was set by a senior BJP leader, Murli Manohar Joshi, who in 1991, when militancy was at its peak in Kashmir, launched his Ekta yatra from Kanyakumari to kashmir which he ended by hoisting the tricolour on the clock tower at historic Lal Chowk. Since then even the security personnel, deployed in Lal Chowk area, would hoist tricolour on the clock tower usually on the Republic Day. It is in this connection that leaders of the state unit of the BJP have sought permission from the party chief, Amit Shah, for hoisting national flag on the clock tower in Lal Chowk area on India's independence day on August 15. Reports have revealed that a BJP representative has met party president Amit Shah and sought his permission to hoist the Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, on August 15, because the BJP in J&K thinks it would be a befitting reply to anti-national forces whose activities have increased in the valley in the shape of waving Pakistani flags and shouting pro-Pakistan slogans. Well on various occasions the flag hoisting ceremony or event has been cancelled because various factors. One such was in 2010 when the 19-year-old tradition was broken when the security forces did not hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk, the heart of heavily guarded Srinagar, where the Republic day celebrations passed off peacefully. The decision against unfurling the flag was taken at the highest level in the state because Tricolour hoisting was seen as a "needless provocation" to the separatist and extremist elements in the area, who have for years been throwing stones at the paramilitary forces positioned there. It was felt by the previous Omar Abdullah led government which was against provoking subversive elements for committing some major mischief. Now that the BJP is part of the coalition Government the party leaders believe that it is time for the party to assert its authority. Well the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the valley, is fluid because of sudden fillip in the activities of militants. The disturbed security scenario in Kashmir has become a cause of worry for the BJP led NDA Government. Hence it may not be a wise step for the BJP to hoist the national flag in Lal Chowk area. The party that shares power with the PDP should know that the official function to celebrate Independence day is to be held in Srinagar and as such the national flag will have to be hoisted during this function. Hence there would be no need for the BJP or for the security forces to hoist the tricolour in Lal chopwk which could provoke separatists, backed by militants,to indulge in acts of violence thereby adding to the level of security and political instability. If the BJP wants to demonstrate pro-India sentiments and counter effectively those who have been waving Pakistani flags and shouting pro-Pakistan slogans it should motivate people in Kashmir to remain present during the time the national flag was hoisted during the independence day celebrations on August 15. If several thousand people are present in the main function in Srinagar and at independence day functions in other district headquarters it would be a befitting reply to those waving Pakistani flags and shouting pro-Pakistan slogans. Let all the functions connected with India's independence day celebrations in the valley be attended by a large number of civilians, including school and college students. If this materialised it may send shivers down the spine of separatists and militants. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
STOCK UPDATE |
|
|
 |
| BSE
Sensex |
 |
| NSE
Nifty |
|
|
| |
CRICKET UPDATE |
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
