BJP lambasts PM's statement on flag hoisting

Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for opposing its proposed flag hoisting at Lal Chowk in Sringar, the BJP today accused the Centre and the state government of "surrendering" to separatists who have declared that they will not let the tricolour be unfurled.

Attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for opposing its proposed flag hoisting at Lal Chowk in Sringar, the BJP on Sunday accused the Centre and the state government of "surrendering" to separatists who have declared that they will not let the tricolour be unfurled.

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"The government has arrested the members of Bharatiya Yuva Morcha. They have sealed all border points in Jammu and Kashmir to prevent their entry. This is unacceptable and undemocratic," senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley told reporters in New Delhi. By doing so "they have surrendered to the separatists," he said and asserted that party activists have already travelled through 11 states and will hoist the Indian flag in Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement on the issue on Saturday, senior BJP leader L K Advani voiced hope that he would realise that BJP Yuva Morcha activists were "not trying to score a political point" but were instead challenging the separatists.

"And the State is surrendering to them," he said.

Jaitley said the PM's statement that Republic Day celebrations should not be used as political agenda is regrettable.

"How can the Prime Minister think that hoisting a flag will divide the nation," the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha asked.

Describing the "crackdown" by the state government as a "panic reaction", he said the actions were "even more shameful as the UPA government took no action against various groups of separatists who had gone to New Delhi a few months back and openly spoke of dividing a particular state and about sedition.