BJP’s ‘Tiranga Yatra’ foiled, police arrest six supporters

SRINAGAR - Jammu and Kashmir Police on Wednesday arrested six Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and separatists, who were heading towards the Lal Chowk here to hoist the national flag on the occasion of the country’s 62nd Republic Day.

The activists sang the national anthem and shouted patriotic slogans, as the police tried to prevent them from hoisting the national flag.

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

No other incidents related to flag hoisting or violence have been reported from the Kashmir Valley.

Earlier today, the BJP turned down Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s invitation to attend the Republic Day celebrations.

“It is a lip service by him (Omar). We do not give credence to it and turn it down,” said Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national president Anurag Thakur.

“Omar first arrested leaders of the nationalist party and then did not allow the hoisting of national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar as if it is not a part of the country. Then he invites us as a state guest for the tricolour hoisting on the Republic Day in the state,” he added.

Earlier 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.

The marchers carrying the national flag in their hands and shouting slogans “Bharat Mata ki jai” breached the barriers put up by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

On Monday, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj were not allowed to leave the Jammu airport.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national president Anurag Thakur is leading the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra, which was scheduled to reach Srinagar today.

The Yatra was expected to cover 3,037 km and enter the State on the afternoon of January 24 at Pathankot. (ANI)