Advani voices support for Ekta Yatra to hoist Tricolour in Lal Chowk

NEW DELHI - Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani has voiced support for the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha’s (BJYM) plans to hoist the national Tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day, despite demands from various quarters to drop the plan.

Speaking at a reception accorded to the Yatra personnel here, Advani said: “I don’t understand when our young party members want to hoist national flag at Lal Chowk why are they opposed. They are not challenging any one especially not the government and not event the nationalists of the country. If they are challenging any one then that is the separatists.”

Attacking Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over his opposition to the yatra, Advani said: “What provocation is he talking about? Hoisting the tricolour should be provocation only for enemies of the nation.”

He further said that it becomes the duty of the State government to ensure that the national flag is being hoisted in the State successfully.

Advani also said he felt vindicated over two issues he had raised in 2009: the Prime Minister’s “weakness” and the need to bring back black money stashed abroad.

“I feel pity for the present government, as they have disgraced themselves. I still remember when in 2009 I commented that I do respect Dr. Manmohan Singh but I also feel pity for him as I have never seen such a weak Prime Minister,” stated Advani.

Earlier, Abdullah met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram ahead of the BJP’s planned

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national president Anurag Thakur is leading the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra - flagged off on January 12 at Kolkata and scheduled to reach Srinagar on January 26.

The yatra will cover 3,037 km and enter the State on the afternoon of January 24 at Pathankot. (ANI)