Why BJP must be allowed to hoist the tricolour

[LaBong]

Then you need to know what happened there last year. Read Jana's signature and you'll get an idea

That would be typical knee-jerk reaction! We shouldn't give importance to such low-priority things done by some youths high on adrenaline.

 

[ajtr]

you can try that at the risk of getting a top down Trishul(Trident) raised on you backside.

First u need to get a visa

I already ve indian passport which i got just by bribing Rs 500 to the official.

Point is when there are sensitivities of people involved with certain place u cant raise national flag there just to prove ur point.if constitution gives u right to unfurl national flag then those rights come attached with responsibilities too. for kashmiris lal chowk was always that sensitive issue as amarnath for hindus.

A 'minor' symbol of nationalism in Srinagar​

The clock tower at Lal Chowk, in the heart of Srinagar, has apparently no significance for Kashmiris. The tower is in a dilapidated condition, the clock has stopped functioning long back, and people pass by even without noticing it.


Hoisting the Tricolour at Lal Chowk evoked protests
However, it's the competing political ideologies in Kashmir, and even from outside the Valley, that have turned this tower into a " great political symbol". The announcement by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, the BJP's youth wing, that it will hoist the Tricolour at Lal Chowk on the Republic Day and the quick response by separatist leader Yasin Malik to resist the move have brought back to focus, the significance of the square. In fact, any organisation that announces hoisting a flag at Lal Chowk ends up unfurling it on the clock tower. Lal Chowk, a business hub, is named after the central marketplace in Moscow - Red Square. Local historians say it was some enthusiastic communists who thought up the name after Lenin seized power in Moscow in 1917. They say Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah, an admirer of socialism, gave the square the name Lal Chowk.
In 1980, Bajaj Electricals raised the clock tower in the middle of Lal Chowk. "It served as an advertisement for Bajaj in Srinagar," Farooq Ahmad Shah, director- tourism, said.

He said that for years it was not renovated. Now the state government has started renovation work on the tower. "We want to repair it on the lines of traditional Kashmiri architecture," Shah said.

Flag hoisting at Lal Chowk began at the height of militancy in the state in 1991 when BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi took BJP youth wing to hoist Tricolour at Lal Chowk

In 1980, Bajaj Electricals raised the clock tower in the middle of Lal Chowk. "It served as an advertisement for Bajaj in Srinagar," Farooq Ahmad Shah, director- tourism, said.

He said that for years it was not renovated. Now the state government has started renovation work on the tower. "We want to repair it on the lines of traditional Kashmiri architecture," Shah said.

Flag hoisting at Lal Chowk began at the height of militancy in the state in 1991 when BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi took out the ' Ekta Yatra' from Kanyakumari to Srinagar, ostensibly to symbolise India's assertion in an area where Pakistani flags were seen as a grim reminder of separatists' defiance.

The announcement brought militant groups together. And the day the Tricolour was unfurled on the tower, thousands of bullets were fired in the air by militants across the Valley to express resentment. Joshi had to hoist the flag in a haste, as a rocket landed metres from the tower.

For the past two years, even the CRPF has not unfurled the flag on the bunker about 200 metres away from Lal Chowk.

On June 27, 2008, when Kashmir erupted against the transfer of forest land to the Amarnath shrine board, thousands of people hoisted scores of green flags on the tower.

Mainstream political parties, including the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party, use the tower to address political gatherings. Early this month, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti addressed a rally near the tower to criticise the government over frequent power failures.

"Lal Chowk has been historically important right from 1947. Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah and the first prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru gave several significant speeches here," said Prof. Gul Muhammad Wani, who teaches political science in Kashmir University. He, however, pointed out that it was Joshi who turned the tower into a " political symbol" by hoisting the national flag on it in 1991.

He termed the Yuva Morcha's latest move a political gimmick. "The BJP has lost two successive elections and now they want to build the party on emotional and corruption- related issues," he added.

A TOWER OF CONTENTION

Lal Chowk, a business hub in Kashmir's summer capital, is named after the central marketplace in Moscow - Red Square
1n 1980, Bajaj Electricals raised the clock tower at Lal Chowk. It served as an advertisement for the company
Flag hoisting at Lal Chowk started at the height of militancy in the state in 1991 by BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi
The state government is renovating the dilapidated clock tower in traditional Kashmiri architecture

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

That would be typical knee-jerk reaction! We shouldn't give importance to such low-priority things done by some youths high on adrenaline.

Why not?

More importantly, what's wrong in sending out a statement? Look what Yasir Malik has to say:

http://www.kashmirobserver.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6698:lal-chowk-flag-prestige-issue-malik&catid=15:top-news&Itemid=2

Till when will we sit on our backsides and let these idiots go on with their propaganda?

I repeat, hoisting a flag does not cause riots. It does, however, send a strong statement to the separatists.

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

Two different things. Pakistani flag was and is being hoisted in Kashmir by local Kashmiris unlike this attempt by Indians to hoist Indian flag forcefully.

Even in a University in Kashmir the students hoisted Pakistani flag though they dint have a bigger version so they put a small Pakistani flag

Nope, Pakistani flag was being hoisted by Indian passport holders on Indian soil in support of an enemy state.

 

[LaBong]

Why not?

More importantly, what's wrong in sending out a statement? Look what Yasir Malik has to say:

http://www.kashmirobserver.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6698:lal-chowk-flag-prestige-issue-malik&catid=15:top-news&Itemid=2

Till when will we sit on our backsides and let these idiots go on with their propaganda?

I repeat, hoisting a flag does not cause riots. It does, however, send a strong statement to the separatists.

You do have a point. But BJP could have done it roping in Omar, instead of playing a political move.

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

You do have a point. But BJP could have done it roping in Omar, instead of playing a political move.

I never denied that it was a political move. But it was also in national interest.

The counter-move by the govt impeded on their RIGHTS. That's why I'm supporting the BJP on this thread.

 

[Manas]

You do have a point. But BJP could have done it roping in Omar, instead of playing a political move.

Does BJP ever specifically ask CM Omar not join them Flag hoisting at LalChowk for any reason??

Enough with flimsy nonstarter pseudo secular arguments in defense of the anti nation behavior of the UPA govt .it'll set very wrong precedent bolstering the separatists interests.

 

[Spring Onion]

No human life is superior to the nation.
and it is shame that congress can't save life of the people who want to hoist their national flag in their own country or punish people who are openly saying 'we'll see who hoist the tricolour'.

lolzz emotional diatribe doesnt change the reality. Kashmir is not part of India and all your bollywood style dramas are aimed at trying to force it making part of india which you failed to do miserably.

If Indians are so fond of and have any courage to hoist their flag in Indian land then please go have march towards Maoist insurgency and concentration areas and hoist the bharati flag with same fanfare on this day

 

[JanjaWeed]

this wasn't a wise move on BJP's part. They have been gaining lot of political milage off late due to the inability of UPA govt to contain corruption, scams & the lot. This was a wrong move as things were getting back on track in Kashmir & peace was starting prevail. This move by BJP has only dented those efforts by the people involved to bring normalcy back to the state!!

 

[Spring Onion]

Okay,Separatists routinely hoists their own flag in the province of Baluchistan. So You may give freedom to Baluchistan .

Don't talk about the disputed status of Kashmir. People of Baluchistan also dispute the accession of Baluchistan into Pakistan.

1. Old failed try by bharatis bringing in Balochistan when you guys have no logical reasoning.

2. Balochistan is part of Pakistan under all International Laws and UN whereas Kashmir is NOT part of India under all international laws.

3. if at all you are so desperate to talk about Balochistan province of Pakistan then its more appropriate to compare it with Indian Naxal, Maoist,and other insurgencies and areas. So oh well yeh when you give freedom to Maoists, Naxals, Bodos, Nagas then come and talk about Balochistan.

Till then keep your nose to your face dont poke it in Pakistan.

 

[Spring Onion]

Nope, Pakistani flag was being hoisted by Indian passport holders on Indian soil in support of an enemy state.

so India even doesnt hold any weight for your own Indians that they started supporting an enemy state .

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

This move by BJP has only dented those efforts by the people involved to bring normalcy back to the state!!

Please don't misuse the word 'normalcy'. Things in Kashmir are not 'normal'. The correct word would be 'status quo' or maybe 'ceasefire'.

Things in Kashmir would be normal the day a Kashmiri Pandit would be able to walk on the streets without fear. The day school children would be able to attend an entire session without fear of suicide bombs. The day a business man would be able to pursue his livelihood without fear of a strike/curfew.

 

[KS]

An excellent article in the first place.Sums up precisely what has been lacking on the part of the Indian Government in dealing with this problem. A daring approach. I doubt whether this would have happened in any other country.

Infact one thing that I came to know was that during the Ekta Yatra '92 Narasimha Rao Govt gave full protection to the MM Joshi led Yatra.And my respect for him went manifold reading that.

It will not be an exaggeration to say the Central Government was forced to hoist the flag because of the Ekta Yatra by the BJP because they did not want to be seen as going against the national sentiment.

Kudos BJP !

Please don't misuse the word 'normalcy'. Things in Kashmir are not 'normal'. The correct word would be 'status quo' or maybe 'ceasefire'.

Things in Kashmir would be normal the day a Kashmiri Pandit would be able to walk on the streets without fear. The day school children would be able to attend an entire session without fear of suicide bombs. The day a business man would be able to pursue his livelihood without fear of a strike/curfew.

Well said , Dear friend.

What is there in Kashmir is not normalcy - but the fatigue where the separatists and the stone pelters got tired of four months of stone pelting and are taking some rest to re-launch their arson and rowdy-ism again during the next summer.

So oh well yeh when you give freedom to Maoists, Naxals, Bodos, Nagas then come and talk about Balochistan.

Last time I checked Maoists and Naxals were one and the same. And you are supposed to be a 'renowed' journalist.

 

[ajtr]

yeah sure if bjp wants to take up all jansangh,RSS, hindu mahasabha heritage then y not own up nathu ram godse tooo along with sp mukherjee....

off topic. period.

real thing is that you dont ve answer to it.

 

[LaBong]

Does BJP ever specifically ask CM Omar not join them Flag hoisting at LalChowk for any reason??

Enough with flimsy nonstarter pseudo secular arguments in defense of the anti nation behavior of the UPA govt .it'll set very wrong precedent bolstering the separatists interests.

I'm not your fairy godfather 'pseudo secular', rant to people who'd listen to you.