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| Hoisting tri-colour: NC-BJP on a warpath | | | NEHA
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Jan 6: One can understand the reasons behind the opposition of the defeated JKLF chairman Yasin Malik to the BJP's decision to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk, Srinagar, on the Republic Day. After all, his whole politics is based on hatred and contempt. He and others of his ilk have all through poured venom on secular, democratic and liberal India and worked for the separation of Jammu and Kashmir on the ground that it is a Muslim-majority area. Hence, how could he and others of his ilk tolerate any India-centric activity in Kashmir? It needs to be noted that Malik on Tuesday dared the BJP to go on with the plan and said: "We will see who will hoist which flag."
However, what is disturbing is the mind-boggling stand of the Chief Minister on the BJP's proposed plan. The Chief Minister on Wednesday warned the BJP against decision to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk saying the BJP would be responsible for "repercussions." "Unfortunately the BJP is never happy if there is not fire somewhere or the other. When Kashmir is burning that is also a problem for them. Then it is my fault as to why is Kashmir burning. Now that Kashmir is quiet they want to set it on fire again," he has said, and added "If the aim of the BJP is to set fire in Kashmir please tell them to come but if there are any repercussions, I will hold them personally responsible. Then they should not blame me if there is any fall out to the situation then they will have to come and will have to sort it out. They will not be able to hold me responsible for it."
As expected, the BJP has reacted sharply to what the Chief Minister has said. The Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley, the same day candidly told reporters in New Delhi that the "BJP maintains that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. We are going to carry the national flag not in one state but through several states. This is part of a campaign for national sovereignty and solidarity. Why should anybody opposes the party's programme that is being organized by the youth wing of the party as part of nation-wide campaign for national sovereignty and solidarity." As for the local BJP, it has dubbed the Chief Minister as "anti-national."
Thus, the battle lines are drawn and confrontation in the offing. The BJP insists that it would go ahead with its programme and the Chief Minister says that he would not be responsible if something happen in Kashmir in reaction. In other words, the Chief Minister has asked the BJP to abandon its programme. That there would be confrontation on an issue of a national import would certainly offend the whole of the nation and the Chief Minister be surely at the receiving end. The Chief Minister has not acted wisely by opposing the BJP's well-conceived programme. In fact, his tone and tenor has only created serious doubts about his credentials and sent a signal that both he and the JKLF leader are on the same page as far as the issue of hoisting national flag at Lal Chowk is concerned.
Hoisting national tri-colour on Republic Day anywhere in the country by anyone is something that needs to be appreciated by everyone, as it only reminds the people of the supreme sacrifices our freedom fighters made to achieve political emancipation from the Britons; as it provides an opportunity to the people to rededicate themselves to the national cause. The Chief Minister should have viewed the BJP plan in this context. That he acted otherwise is something very intriguing.
There is nothing new in the BJP's plan. Political parties and individuals - apart from attending official programmes -- do hoist national tri-colour at several places to express their solidarity with the national cause and remember the sacrifices made by freedom fighters. Even the NC leaders do so in Jammu. So, what is wrong if the BJP decides to unfurl the national flag at Lal Chowk. Lal Chowk is not located in a foreign land. It is located in the state's summer capital.
The Chief Minister must review his controversial stand. In fact, he should join hands with the BJP so that the function becomes memorable and ask his party workers to hoist national flags across the Kashmir Valley. Such a gesture on his part and on the part of his government would strengthen his position in Kashmir and elsewhere. Even otherwise, he is constitutionally bound to make the Republic Day celebrations a smooth affair. |
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