Chidambaram compliments Omar Govt. for handling BJP’s ‘Ekta Yatra’ tactfully

NEW DELHI - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday complimented Jammu and Kashmir Government for handling the situation tactfully and firmly when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attempted to take ‘Ekta Yatra’ to Srinagar ostensibly to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk.

Presenting the monthly report card of his ministry, Chidambaram said: “As you are aware, the BJP attempted to take a yatra to Srinagar ostensibly to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk. Despite my appeal to the BJP leaders, they appeared determined to defy the restrictive orders issued by the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Hence, they were removed to Madhopur in Punjab.”

“The next day, when they attempted to cross the bridge to Lakhanpur, they were detained and, subsequently, released on the afternoon of January 26. No group was allowed to assemble or raise any flag in Lal Chowk. I compliment the Government of Jammu and Kashmir for handling the situation tactfully and firmly”, he added.

Earlier on January 26, Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested six Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and separatists, who were heading towards the Lal Chowk to hoist the national flag.

All the activists arrested are residents of other states and the police are trying to gather more information from them.

On Tuesday, scores of BJP activists including party veterans Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Ananth Kumar and Anurag Thakur were taken into custody under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) while marching towards Jammu and Kashmir from Punjab.

BJP’s Rashtriya Ekta Yatra, which was led by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national president Anurag Thakur, was expected to cover 3,037 km and enter the State on the afternoon of January 24 at Pathankot. (ANI)