The BJP is planning to approach the court against the governments at the Centre and in Jammu and Kashmir for preventing its activists from hoisting the national flag in Srinagar on Republic Day, party leader L.K. Advani said.
Talking to journalists here on Monday, Mr. Advani said hoisting the tricolour was the fundamental right of every citizen and the governments could not prevent the BJP activists from exercising their right.
Mr. Advani was here to attend a meeting of the Somnath Trust held under the chairmanship of the former Gujarat Chief Minister, Keshubhai Patel. Chief Minister Narendra Modi, the former Chief Secretary, P.K. Lehri, and other members of the Trust, attended the meeting.
The veteran BJP leader attacked the Congress-led UPA government for the alleged large-scale corruption which, he said, had earned a bad name for the country.
Mr. Advani lauded the performance of the BJP-ruled States, particularly Gujarat. He claimed that red tape and corruption were the least prevalent in the State and cited the success of the recent Vibrant Gujarat summit.
The meeting discussed various options for the development and beautification of the Somnath temple on the sea coast in Junagadh district in the Saurashtra region. An 85-room guest house, equipped with modern facilities, for the pilgrims coming to Somnath was also discussed. The progress made in the construction of the protective wall on the coast to prevent seawater from corroding the temple base was reviewed. Mr. Patel said the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board would develop a 3.5-km long stretch to Somnath for the benefit of the pilgrims.
Mr. Modi suggested creating a “temple town” keeping Somnath at the centre. Mr. Advani said the developments being carried out in Somnath should be given wide publicity.
