Chief minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday warned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against its plan to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk on January 26, stating that it would be responsible for repercussions, if any, to its move.
Responding to the query about JKLF leader Yasin Malik’s statement describing the BJP’s plan as provocative, the chief minister stated that he would hold the BJP personally responsible if there are any repercussions.
“Then they should not blame me if there is any fallout to the situation ... they will have to come and will have to sort it out. They will not be able to hold me responsible for it.”
Notably, Mr Malik had stated, “We will see who will hoist the tricolour at Lal Chowk.”
“Unfortunately, the BJP is never happy if there is not a fire somewhere or the other. When Kashmir is burning that is also a problem for them. Then it is my fault ... as why is Kashmir burning. Now that Kashmir is quiet they want to set it on fire again,” Mr Abdullah said.
Ridiculing the Bharatiya Janata Party’s proposed “Ekta Yatra” and “plan to hoist the tricolour at Lal Chowk”, Mr Omar questioned, “When my minister is going to hoist the tricolour in Srinagar in the middle of the stadium, taking a salaami... What is the need for an individual to hoist a flag? Flags will be hoisted at numerous places, every district headquarters will have a flag-hoisting ceremony. Every security camp, every police establishment, Army establishment will organise flag-hoisting, then what is the need for the BJP (to do so)? Are they more nationalist than the rest of us? If my minister hoists a flag in the middle of Srinagar, is that some how irrelevant and is their flag more relevant? If the aim of the Bharatiya Janata Party is to set a fire in Kashmir please tell them to stop, but if there are any repercussions, I will hold them personally responsible.”