Malik to BJP: Will see who hoists Lal Chowk flag

[ajtr]

BJP's five-star flag march​

BJYM president puts up in expensive hotels during Rashtriya Ekta Yatra

When it comes to their personal comfort, politicians don't compromise on boarding and lodging, no matter what campaign they are conducting. The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president and Lok Sabha MP Anurag Thakur, who recently raised doubts over Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's stay in a Dalit's basti, parks himself at the most luxurious hotels available in the cities that are on the route of Rashtriya Ekta Yatra that started from Kolkata on January 12.

Take a break: BJYM activists being greeted with flowers as they shout slogans during the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra.

"Anurag Thakur, who is leading the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra, is opting for most luxurious hotels in the cities on the route for his day breaks and night halts. A day before the Yatra began, he stayed at Spring Club in Kolkata on January 11. At Durgapur in West Bengal, the city where the Yatra took a first day break, he stayed at Rose Valley, one of the best hotels in the city.

Later, he stayed at Canary Inn at Hazaribagh in Jharkhand, Hotel Maurya in Patna, Hotel Ramada in Varanasi, Hotel Prakash Residency in Jhansi, a VVIP guest house at Lucknow and Panna Palace in Agra, all high-end hotels. Last night, he stayed at Haryana government guest house, Macfi, in Faridabad," said a youth leader, who is part of the Yatra.

Surprisingly, according to sources, the youth leader cancelled his stay in towns like Arrah in Bihar, Jaunpur and Unnao in UP and Barakhata in Jharkhand just because these economically backward places didn't have a luxurious accommodation.

"Anurag preferred to break his journey in Patna, despite his initial plan to stay in Arrah (Bihar) because of the unavailability of a luxury hotel there. For similar reasons, he also skipped his scheduled stays in places like Barakhata, Jaunpur and Unnao and preferred to halt at Hazaribagh, Varanasi and Lucknow," said the youth leader.

Ironically, his companions in the Yatra didn't get the same treatment. "The youth workers, who are accompanying him, have been provided B-grade accommodation," said a source. Anurag was unavailable for comment.

The 'Rastriya Ekta Yatra' from Kolkata to Kashmir was flagged off on January 12 from Kolkata by the BJP President Nitin Gadkari. It will enter Delhi from Badarpur border on Thursday and senior party leader LK Advani will address the workers at Constitution Club in the afternoon. Passing through different states, the Yatra will reach Srinagar on January 26, where the BJYM president will hoist the National Flag.

 

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J&K govt raises flag, won't allow BJP march​

The J&K government has decided not to allow BJP youth wing activists to hoist national flag on Jan 26, Republic Day, at Lal Chowk. The state government has taken a firm decision that BJP activists will not be allowed to enter Valley at any cost. The decision was taken in a cabinet meeting on Thursday chaired by chief minister Omar Abdullah. A government handout was issued after the cabinet meeting said, "the state government has directed the Civil and Police authorities to ensure that all measures are taken to ensure that the law and order in the state is not disturbed in the run up to the Republic Day celebrations”
"The flag-hoisting yatra will undo all the gains made in last few-month. It will be a provocative act and will have counter reaction. It was unanimously decided that BJP activists will not be allowed to cross Jawahar tunnel," said a senior cabinet minister, wishing not to be quoted.

Jawahar tunnel, 200-km north of Jammu, separates Jammu and Kashmir division.

The cabinet decision was taken a day after chief minister called on home minister in New Delhi to discuss flag-hoisting yatra by Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha (BJYM), youth wing of BJP. Omar in a guarded statement after the meeting had said, “..we are hoping that nothing is will be done to precipitate the situation in the State. As we come closer to Jan 26 we will decide.”

The state government decision based on its assessment of the situation in the backdrop of the Lal Chowk Chalo (march) call given by on Jan 26 by Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, a separatist outfit headed by Yasin Malik.

Flag hoisting yatra, called Ekta Sankalp yatra, was flagged by BJP national president Nitin Gadkari from Kolkota on Jan 11.

BJP has categorically made it clear that it will go ahead with its scheduled programme. The party had said stopping the yatra will amount to appeasing separatists.

 

[KS]

J&K govt raises flag, won't allow BJP march​

BJP have won without firing a single shot

 

[ajtr]

Flagging the Valley​

Hindustan Times
January 20, 2011

The decision of the BJP to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar this Republic Day could be an act of political expediency, but it’s not a prudent step in the long run. The timely counsel of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah not to pursue this short-term political vision, seems to have fallen on deaf ears in the BJP as it aspires to regain its status in national politics.

Surely, nobody can challenge the legitimate right of a free citizen to hoist the national flag anywhere within the boundaries of India. But the issue of raising the tricolour in the Valley isn’t merely about that right. It is about being sensitive to the feelings of a silent majority of Kashmiris whose fledgling hopes swell with the promise of peace in the streets of the Valley. It is about not rupturing the veneer of thin ice and provoking vested interests to fish in the troubled waters lurking below. It is about being aware of a litany of woes that have largely gone unnoticed.

The issue is about looking straight at the citizens of the Valley with compassion and not driving flagpoles in the name of patriotism through their fragile dreams. Populism and brinkmanship may have considerable space and importance in the political arena. But in Kashmir, it is about holding hands precariously. For a long time, we have pushed, prodded and hoped that our hard-hitting postures and actions would bring us the desired results in Kashmir.

The proponents of the flag hoisting ceremony the coming Wednesday may well argue that Lal Chowk is just another destination, a final stop in their ongoing exercise within the nation. Even if we were to agree to this proposition of equivalence, we should understand what net gains and losses may accrue at the end of it.

Three main compulsions drive the BJP to extend its flag-hoisting yatra into the Valley: One, to proclaim ultra-patriotism through this action to outsmart the political adversaries in the eyes of the Indian public. Two, to reiterate the might and writ of Indian Statehood that encompasses the Kashmir Valley. Three, to demonstrate loud and clear to citizens and separatists of the Valley that India is here to stay whether they like it or not.

There could be more reasons, but considering that these are the main ones, it is evident that a pan-Indian political party doesn’t need to do what they intend to on Republic Day. To be a worthy aspirant for ruling the country, the BJP’s political leadership needs to gain the confidence and acceptance of Kashmiris. The January 26 gesture won’t help one bit.

On a more symbolic level, flag-hoisting signifies stamping one’s writ over a people. By hoisting India’s national flag at Lal Chowk, we mustn’t be led into believing that the geographic contours of the Valley have been irrevocably subsumed into the Indian map. By inhabiting that small space for an hour or two, we wouldn’t automatically have occupied the vast space of the hearts and minds of the Kashmiris.

The challenge is not to spend energies on restating the geographic contours of our nation, but to find ways and means to fill the void spaces within those contours.

Maharaj Pandit is a professor at University of Delhi

The views expressed by the author are personal

 

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Pandits to join hands in hoisting Tricolour in J&K on Republic Day​

Kashmiri pandits have extended support to BJP for hoisting the Tricolour at Lal Chowk on Republic Day.

Kashmiri pandit groups held a meeting under the banner of Joint Forum of Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu, unanimously rejecting an appeal from the interlocutors to reconsider their plan.

They also called for action against those opposing the hoisting of the Tricolour.

“The statements issued by the interlocutors cause pain and anguish among the victims of secessionism and terrorism. We fully support the programme of hoisting the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on January 26. Those who oppose the hoisting in Kashmir should be booked under law of the land,” All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference general secretary HL Chatta said.

The interlocutors on Wednesday had urged the BJP to reconsider its plan of hoisting the Tricolour.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

Army warns BJP about yatra in J&K

The Indian Army has warned that should the flag hoisting, as proposed by a wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), create a law and order problem, it will take action as it deems best for the state and the country.

guilty conscience?

I would love to see him foil BJP's plans!

ohhhhh yes.....!

 

[Hulk]

These flags clearly shows, how divided the opinion in Srinagar is, forget valley and then the state.

Some people host Pakistan's flag.
Majority others have some other flag.

Means what, some want to join Pakistan and Some wants Freedom.

Now this state of Srinagar.

Look everything in context, what is current state is exactly what is needed.

 

[ajtr]

These flags clearly shows, how divided the opinion in Srinagar is, forget valley and then the state.

Some people host Pakistan's flag.
Majority others have some other flag.

Means what, some want to join Pakistan and Some wants Freedom.

Now this state of Srinagar.

Look everything in context, what is current state is exactly what is needed.

for kashmiris Lal Chowk is as symbolic as lal qila for indians.If pakistani flag fly on lal chowk then symbolically it means tha jammu and kashmir is under the symbolic control of pakistan.likewise if pakistani flag fly on lal qila that means symbolically whole of india is under pakistan control.

 

[KS]

These flags clearly shows, how divided the opinion in Srinagar is, forget valley and then the state.

Some people host Pakistan's flag.
Majority others have some other flag.

Means what, some want to join Pakistan and Some wants Freedom.

Now this state of Srinagar.

Look everything in context, what is current state is exactly what is needed.

Leave it bro - they do not know what 'happened' to that flag later that day.

It was unceremoniously pulled down, torn in full public view and burnt there itself. (inside info from my friend's bro posted there).

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

These flags clearly shows, how divided the opinion in Srinagar is, forget valley and then the state.

Some people host Pakistan's flag.
Majority others have some other flag..

either you are confused, or you need prescription glasses.....


(or both)

Leave it bro - they do not know what 'happened' to that flag later that day.

It was unceremoniously pulled down, torn in full public view and burnt there itself. (inside info from my friend's bro posted there).

doubtful....there would have been pictures posted up of that as well --considering there were several thousand people there, many with cameras.

no offence, but your ''friend's bro'' (or just you) might be trying to save damaged face by doing something -- i think they call it lying through the teeth





surely he (you) have some pics to share?

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

for kashmiris Lal Chowk is as symbolic as lal qila for indians.If pakistani flag fly on lal chowk then symbolically it means tha jammu and kashmir is under the symbolic control of pakistan.likewise if pakistani flag fly on lal qila that means symbolically whole of india is under pakistan control.

flags or no flags, everyone can agree that hindustan has little to no control over the people of said areas.......vast majority are against the occupation, and the media has highlighted this time and time again --as have people actually on the ground there

By the way, Umreth and Assam were at some point under the symbolic control of Pakistan as well

 

[KS]

doubtful....there would have been pictures posted up of that as well --considering there were several thousand people there, many with cameras.

no offence, but your ''friend's bro'' (or just you) might be trying to save damaged face by doing something -- i think they call it lying through the teeth





surely he (you) have some pics to share?

The soldiers of the CIF (K) ,RR do not carry cameras with them.

And its your prerogative to believe it or not.

 

[Abu Zolfiqar]

The soldiers of the CIF (K) ,RR do not carry cameras with them.

obviously not

And its your prerogative to believe it or not.

oh you're right....and what I'm saying is, I don't believe a thin word.

here's a deal:

I will post vande mataram in my sig for 1 month if you can find even one (1) picture of the Pakistani nation flag undergoing the treatment at Lal Chowk you (or that buddy of yours) claim was meted out

considering there were thousands of Kashmiri brothers there, many with digicams and mobile cams, this shouldnt be too much to ask for

 

[notsuperstitious]

By the way, Umreth and Assam were at some point under the symbolic control of Pakistan as well

It seems gold watches are winning wars for you these days.

Oh, symbolic, OK.