Gadkari launches march to hoist national flag at Srinagar
January 12th, 2011 - 7:32 pm ICT by IANS
Kolkata, Jan 12 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Nitin Gadkari Wednesday launched the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra, or the national unity march, that will conclude Jan 26 with the hoisting of the national flag at Srinagar’s historic Lal Chowk, a move opposed by the Jammu and Kashmir government.According to the BJP, the yatra’s purpose is to uphold the unity of India and bind the youth of India with Kashmir.
The yatra, on a bus converted to look like a chariot used by Hindu warriors of yore, will pass through 11 states before reaching Lal Chowk, the centre of Srinagar, on Republic Day Jan 26.
Gadkari kicked off the yatra by handing over the tricolour to Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) president Anurag Thakur.
“This is very unfortunate that after 63 years of independence we need to go to Kashmir for hoisting a flag. Lakhs of Kashmiri Pandits have been evicted from Kashmir. Congress is only interested in vote bank politics,” Gadkari said after launching the yatra.
“The problem of Kashmir is because of the appeasement policies of the Congress. Why is it that this government doesn’t have the courage to say no to ‘azaadi’ (freedom) and they have to stay in Kashmir. Kashmir is an integral part of India and it will remain so,” Gadkari said.
This ‘Ekta Yatra’ has drawn much attention after Kashmiri separatist leader Muhammad Yasin Malik challenged the BJP’s decision to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also asked the BJP not to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk as this would unnecessarily “provoke” the people of Kashmir.
- BJP MP dares Malik on Lal Chowk flag - Jan 05, 2011
- Rashtriya Ekta Yatra to reach Chandigarh Friday - Jan 21, 2011
- Yatra stopped to please separatists: BJP; flag hoisted at Madhopur (Roundup) - Jan 26, 2011
- Kashmir government's action on party leaders undemocratic: Gadkari - Jan 24, 2011
- BJP presses ahead with Lal Chowk plans, asks Omar to join (Lead) - Jan 22, 2011
- BJP activists hoist national flag near Madhopur bridge - Jan 26, 2011
- Flag hoisting row: Omar Abdullah refuses entry to BJYM - Jan 20, 2011
- BJP asks Omar to participate in Lal Chowk flag-hoisting - Jan 22, 2011
- BJP's Ekta Yatra reaches Pathankot, to enter Jammu Tuesday - Jan 24, 2011
- Flag hoisting row: Gadkari calls government repressive (Lead, changing dateline) - Jan 24, 2011
- BJP's youth wing firm on hoisting flag in Srinagar - Jan 23, 2011
- May move court on government foiling flag march: BJP - Jan 27, 2011
- BJP top brass stopped at Jammu Airport ahead of 'Ekta Yatra' - Jan 24, 2011
- Yasin Malik arrested for flag march to Lal Chowk - Jan 26, 2011
- Advani voices support for Ekta Yatra to hoist Tricolour in Lal Chowk - Jan 21, 2011
Tags: anurag, chowk, government doesn, jammu and kashmir, jammu and kashmir government, kashmir chief minister, kashmiri pandits, lakhs, lal, muhammad yasin, national flag, national unity, republic day, separatist leader, srinagar, tricolour, vote bank, yasin malik, yatra, yuva morcha