Srinagar, Oct 26 (UNI) Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday took out a “ Tiranga Car Rally” in Srinagar under heavy security arrangements on the 73rd anniversary of signing of instrument of accession to join Jammu and Kashmir in Indian union in 1947 by Majaraja Hari Singh.
Earlier, three BJP local leaders from Kupwara were taken into preventive custody after they unsuccessfully tried to hoist National flag at historic Lal Chowk, the nerve centre of the summer capital, Srinagar this morning when all shops and business were closed.
A large number of BJP leaders and workers, including Vice President Sofi Yousuf and spokesperson Altaf Thakur assembled at Tagore Hall, where large number of Central Armed Paramilitary Forces (CAPF) and police personnel were deployed since morning as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incident.
Vehicles with National Flag later left for S K International Convention Complex (SKICC) on the bank of famed Dal Lake through high security Gupkar road. Traffic was stopped on the road to allow BJP car rally.
The rally passed through Gupkar road, where the residence of three former chief ministers—Dr Farooq Abdullah, his son Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti are located. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba has recently said she will not hoist the national flag until the flag of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was not restored. This has evoked sharp reaction from BJP and other saffron parties who demanded arrest of Mehbooba, who was chosen as vice chairperson of “Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration” (PAGD) while Dr Abdullah is its chairman.
Altaf Thakur told reporters before the start of the rally that it was a befitting reply to all those anti- national leaders and parties who show disrespect to national flag.
I want to tell Mehbooba and Dr Abdullah that there is no place for anti-national activities as Kashmir has now changed, he said adding everybody is now holding the national flag. People in Kashmir are hoisting flags at their homes, he claimed.
The state flag, which has now been adopted as symbol flag by PAGD, was removed from all government buildings, including civil secretariat, seat of the government, and vehicles after centre abrogated Article 370 and 35 A on August 5, 2019 when all mainstream leaders, including three former CMs were arrested.
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