Making trouble, not peace and unity, was the real purpose of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Ekta Yatra to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day. The people and the government of the troubled State of Jammu and Kashmir certainly did not need this disintegrative march by leaders of the country's principal opposition party, who seemed intent on heightening tensions and provoking violence rather than on healing wounds and restoring normality. In the face of a potentially explosive situation, the law-enforcing authorities in Jammu and Kashmir had no choice but to stop the yatra at Lakhanpur and arrest the leaders. Clearly, the BJP wanted to use the Kashmir Valley as another stage for furthering its communal agenda; the political dividends were to come from elsewhere in the country. For all its talk of making corruption and governance the key issues in its poll campaign, the Hindutva party does not seem to tire of working for a Hindu-Muslim polarisation of the vote in its favour. Kashmir, like the Babri Masjid, is seen to be a tool for political mobilisation of Hindus across the country. Kashmir is a complex issue that admits of no straight or quick solutions. The very least a responsible political party can do is to avoid disrupting the uneasy calm that prevails in the Valley after months of street protests last year.
As it neared Jammu and Kashmir, the yatra, which set off on January 12 from Kolkata, looked more like an expedition to conquer enemy territory than a march for national unity. The political target was not separatism in Kashmir but the secular foundations of India. Sushma Swaraj, one of the expeditionary leaders, outlined how the BJP intended politically to use the stopping of the yatra: while those who burnt the national flag were being given security, she said, those who held up the tricolour were being arrested. Such oft-repeated confrontational tactics offer limited purchase. An opposition party would be expected to concentrate on issues that resonate with the people. Interestingly, the BJP's own allies have seen through the latest misadventure. Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader Nitish Kumar, who runs a coalition government with the BJP, saw no meaning in the yatra in view of the situation in the Valley. Surely, if the BJP turns a deaf ear to friends and foes alike, it will find itself isolated on key issues. Its interests would be served by learning to look ahead instead of repeating old discredited tricks. Any further attempt to make political capital of the travails of the people of Jammu and Kashmir would be worse than a crime — it would be a historic blunder.
Keywords: Bharatiya Janata Party, Ekta Yatra, Kashmir unrest, national flag, Omar Abdullah government, separatists
One may not agree with the BJP's Hindutva ideology, but still one would like to disagree with your view on this issue. Giving colour of communalism to purely an issue of nationalism is frivolous and childish. Even if it is accepted for the sake of it, then you are inadvertently accepting the fact and truth that the problem of Kashmir is nothing but an issue of our neighbour's state religion being majority in the Indian state. When the likes of Geelani and others can freely roam across the breadth and width of our country and preach seditious ideas under state protection, isn't it strange that we cannot hoist our national flag in Kashmir which we claim to be our nation's integral part? Arrest for nationalists and protection for seditious people.
what is so communal about hoisting our own national flag in any place of the country. Flag doesn't symbolise the
hindu community only.
And if the govt feel this, then it should stop the yatra in other places too. beacuse non hindu communities are
in every state. Ideally, kashmiri parties or leaders should come in front and should hoist the flag there in lal chow
if they can not allow bjp to do so. It would send a message that no one is against hoisting the flag
(as kashmir is and would always be an integral part of india) but
they do not want so many aggressive element in the sensitive place.
- Anu
Well one more political propaganda by BJP. It won't be right only to blame BJP. Its an age old problem with all the political parties. This issue is not just about J & K but the root cause of every political problem existing in the country. Every political party looks for a window of opportunity to let the opposite party down and this is what BJP did. They thought they could make a national statement out of it and try to win the next election. What I would suggest not just to BJP but to every other party that instead of pushing the issue , playing with the emotions of the general people to use against another party collate together and try to work out something better. Instead of pulling each others leg and playing the blame games, sit together and work out something constructive for the nation. Wasting so much effort and money making yatra won't give any solution. Go and talk to people listen to what they are saying and just don't try to make your own statement for them. Let "junta" speak for themselves.
as a citizen of any country,prior to fighting for rights we need to understand our duties more importantly.the state of jammu and kashmir especially the conflict torn valley was limping to peace back when a new gimmick was thrown open by the main opposition at the centre,whose role could have been quite functional otherwise and a positive contribution to vest the state with peace.there was no need to glorify the hosting drama as right from 1947 the triclour is hoisted with respect every year twice by the state administration and government,so what was the need to raise such a futile hue and cry.BJP should help kashmir in building peace but it seems it has started a war against it,also hoisting flag issue has been only watched by masses of the state and taken forgranted simply which shows people are hardly interested who hoists and who stops it.party needs a serious rethink on its actions and discourses on kashmir issue and people especially muslims now treat the party somewhat against their ethos and culture,which can prove detrimental to its development where muslim populaton is not less than 22%.let us throw gimmickry and talk peace,GDP,growth,povert allevation,hunger free india,employment and a good life standard.let BJP fight for masses on such issues.
adfar shah
srinagar
Our constitution gives us all the right to hoist our national flag anywhere in the country irrespective of caste, creed, religions and boundaries but it also entrusted the govt machineries whether in centre or state to ensure the safety and security of the common man. Why do these political parties, BJP in particular, fail to understand doing right things at the right moment? Does hoisting the flag will end up the crisis in Kashmir? or Will it act as a stamp to justify the patriotism of locals of Jammu and Kashmir? Why can't BJP think of hoisting a flag in the hot bed of naxalism i.e Abhujmarh(Chattishgarh) which is still a liberated zone under full control of naxalites with no sign of Indian flag anywhere? its all about provocative patriotism with an aim to settle political scores. We must understand that its time to shed this kind of politics and concentrate on improving the social, economical and moral health of the nation which is deteriorating like anything. No doubt, we all are united but these political vandetta should not erode this harmony for petty political gains. Jai Hind.
whatever the policitcal reasons behind each party of India.
the question is : why cant we raise our national flag in J&K ?
is it not an integral part of India ?
Congress has been proving its anti-national politics in J&K, Arunachal(China) , AP (Telungana), Tamilnadu (Srilankan - TN fisherman issue) and going on.
Please vote for good people. Let the performance get voted like Bihar.
The BJP's attempt to play 'tricolour' politics was brazen and irresponsible. What is even more amazing is the support from members of the general public in cyberspace, especially the middle class.
It is this same class which rarely attends flag hoisting ceremonies and choses instead to use Republic Day and Independence day as occasions to go out on picnics, outings etc. And then to beat their chests about the right to hoist the national flag in 'Lal Chowk' is nothing short of hypocrisy. Worse still, most of those writing in support of the BJP ekta yatra live in those parts of India which are largely peaceful and have no idea what violence and strife mean in daily life.
To encourage 'avoidable trouble' in a place like J & K which has seen so much turmoil over the last two decades is nothing short of perverse and criminal.
As usual, The Hindu calls a spade a spade! If it was not for their misguided communal politics, the BJP stars(Susha/Arun) would not have courted arrest in Jammu. This is a party that has lost relevance in an emerging India, where the Indian muslims feel completely at home. How eles can you explain Nitish Kumar's support from muslims in Bihar. It is sad that the BJP cannot see M. J Akbars produced by a secular India. Hindudtva is doomed to failure and so is the BJP!
Hats off to the editor for presenting behind the scene facts to the readers.Certaingly the Ekta yatra was beyond the national integration mission.Choosing Lal chowk as the full stop of Ekta yatra by BJP,makes us to pause & ponder & what we come to conclude has been clearly expressed in the above column.At a time when life in kashmir is still not back on the track after 5 months Anti-India unrest; & BJP's plan to fish in the troubled waters needs to be condemned outrightly.
BJP wants to hoist the National Flag in Kashmir, an integral part of India. The Question is why now. Few months back, we saw the unrest in the valley. Slowly the situation seems to be coming back to normal. Central & State Govts are against any event that can lead to a polorised situation. Also the fact that BJP is not reflecting the aspirations of the Kashmiris. They are not worried about the basic amenities safety,security,education, health care,unemployment.
Hoisting flag in tight security is no bravery.
This was a good step by government as noone of the kashmiri wants to see tricolor being hoisted on the clock tower of city heart.... They only like it green :)
Shame on the government that it can't let people hoist their flag. It is such ban and arrest, that polarize the people. We as India should be united and be brave enough to stress the importance of paying respects to martyrs and the courageous who have given their blood and life to safeguard us from anti-national elements.
This is a strange editorial.The High Court has more or less accepted BJP's view that Babri Masjid was built on a demolished temple.Sooner or later the country will have to accept the BJP's view that Article 370 is a hindrance in the process of integration of Kashmir with India. Kashmiri politicians have benefited from the non-integration. But mainstream Indian politicians should stop this blackmail of the Indian nation.
I feel it's not right to support (indirect) separatists by not hoisting the flag. At least Omar should hoist the flag and see that there is no disturbance from separatists. First of all one must have the will to hoist.
How come hoisting the tricolour attack "the secular foundations of India"? No doubt the gimmick was to gain political mileage but to say that it attacks the secular foundations of Indian is laughable.
It is not the question of BJP or Congress issue it is the question of national integrity. It will send a wrong signal to the world that J&K is not part and parcel of India and gives a base for Pakistan to get international support.So stop making it political issue between UPA and BJP.
It will also questions the leadership of union Govt, particularly Prime minister.
Arresting people who are trying to hoist National flag in Lal Chowk is mokery of democracy. What should ideally be done is that they should provide security to these people and helped them to hoist the tricolour peacefully.
BJP as a party and its leader will never change nor learn. Their style of inducing hatred, violence, disintegration will never be supported by True India.
The latest tactic by the BJP to enhance its electoral fortunes at the cost of national peace and lives of innocent citizens is simply outrageous and only exemplifies a height of insensitivity on its part. Kashmir valley has just been through the worst crisis in the history of the state that saw dozens of its citizens, including kids and minors, getting killed in the span of just a few months. The rising discontent among the people, fuelled by the separatist elements saw people taking to the streets and getting locked in seemingly unending cycle of disruptions and violence with the security forces. It was only through some imaginative thinking and sustained efforts by the central government working in concert with the state apparatus that some fragile peace has finally descended in the valley. The team of interlocutors appointed by the central government has finally begun to make some headway in its quest for initiating an inclusive dialogue in the valley in which the people, the state government and the separatist elements can be made effective stakeholders. At such a sensitive juncture, the least that anyone who genuinely wants peace and order to be restored to the valley is expected to do is to refrain from indulging in any activity that has the potential to derail the ongoing peace process or stir up violence in the valley.
A complete let down of an editorial. That a leading newspaper can intepret raising a national flag in its own territory as confrontationist is absurd to the core. How it furthers the cause of Hindu - Muslim divide is beyond comprehension.
I have one genuine question to the writer that when the name of BJP comes why does every one comes up with communal aspect out of it. BJP had Yatra for hoisting tri-color and not its own party flag.
I admire The Hindu for its view on social justice, transparency and in depth analysis of issues but on issues of religion and other communal issues I smell fish. When people like Gilani and Arundhati Roy speak against this country at it's very own capital, you seem to advocate them in the name of freedom of expression but when somebody does something which is not only legal but also a fundamental right, you question their intention. At the end I would like to clearify that I'm not a great fan of BJP but on this issue they are right.
The "Ekta Yatra" of BJP is one of the worst blunders in the present political scenario.
Kashmir belongs to India. There is no need to stress this fact by hoisting the tricolor. Such irrational acts by BJP can lead to irreparable casualities. As an opposition party BJP should be more responsible. The Kashmir valley is reviving back to normality after almost a year of unrest. A small spark can cause a wildfire which would engulf everything.
The people of Kashmir has the right to lead a peaceful life.
Your editorial is not only timely but brutally frank. You are right in drawing the attention to the potential political fall-out of such yatras.
Leaving all the politics aside. Won't it send a loud signal to all nations that Kashmir is an integral part of India, if Indians hoisted the flag in the valley?
I am reminded of a dialogue in the movie "Gandhi", where a British officer tells Gandhiji "You are under arrest...", when Gandhi responds "on what charge?", the officer continues by saying "you are disturbing peace...", Gandhiji reponds "I am an Indian travelling in my own country, I do not see any problem in that...", the officer relents, grudgingly! In India it seems our own people are worse than the imperial colonialists!
What has come of our politicians? Why can't they say in one voice that Kashmir is a sovereign state of India and why does the media shy away from this responsibility?
Instead of toeing a political line I wish The Hindu took a more objective view of the importance of asserting Indian sovereignity! Politicians of all hues and journalists of all hues owe this to the nation and the voiceless, average, majority (not look at this term with a communal colour please!) citizenry.
Sir, there is a great deal of branding that is going into both politics and news reporting. Anything that BJP does is "communal" and "polarizing". A balanced view, at least with the media is needed.
Had the BJP and other nationalists been allowed to just march to 'Lal Chowk' and furl the indian flag, there would not have been so much tamasha. It is only the GOI and the state govt. who made all unreasonable noises to stop this yatra and make politics out of it, which has infuriated the Indian public at large.
But how long we have to suffer unrest in Kashmir. It is not just the political ambitions of any party, the common man wants to see a peaceful Kashmir which is an intergral part of India. Please don't count only the recent violence and deaths, count the countless brave jawans who gave their lives for keeping Kashmir as a part of India.
BJP is a party formed on basis of religion, exploiting religious sentiments of Hindus, discriminating the people on basis of religion. Party should be banned slapping a severe legislative notice.
The central and state governments took the right steps by not allowing these leaders of BJP bent upon reaping the political fruits by heightening the tensions in Kashmir.
According to Indian Constitution an Indian can hoist flag anywhere in India, and Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. I don't know why people are not allowed their right to hoist flag. Pity on Government and it policies!
BJP and Congress, both have got the same communal policy.Only difference between them is that one wants a hindu nation at any cost while the other makes sure that it reflects a secular image of India,while implementing policies hampering any sort of advancement of counties' most significant minority.It's visible to anyone having even moderate level of IQ and a straight & unbiased thinking process.
Whats wrong if an Indian wants to hoist the flag in J&K. Why those leaders were stopped. Article is totally biased.
Yes, at present situation in Kashmir is explosive, so, is that reason for not hosting national flag?
The main opposition party of India has given up all the political gains it had acquired over the demand of a JPC on the 2G scam by once again revealing it's real agenda of communalising the society.Jammu and Kashmir government should be praised for not falling prey to rhetoric and taking control, something it did not do last year after the Shopian incident. The BJP looks to gain nothing by advocating its divisive policies, India has learned its lessons from the Babri Masjid demolition act.
If it is about securing the land of Kashmir, the Indian Security Forces are doing more than an excellent job for past several years -- it is the trust of the people of Kashmir that needs to be secured. And the yatra is infact more counter-productive than unproductive in terms of winning the trust of the Kashmiri people -- the only long-term way of retaining Kashmir in the Indian Union is to win the trust of the majority of the ordinary Kashmiris, no matter whatever good it takes to do it.
And as the last line of the Editorial says, it will be a historical blunder to play these kind of dangerous tricks.
It may sound quite fair to put BJP responsible in all this drama as it, to quite an extent was trying to exploit the communal sensitive area for filling up its vote piggy bank.But somewhere, this entire episode has exposed weak control of the Kashmir government over its own territory.
I am delighted to read this note that came as a balm to a hurt soul from watching the events unfolding in Kashmir, driven by politically coloured patriotism by a party which is desperately seeking means and methods to regain their lost position, lost primarily owing to the same methodologies they exercised earlier.
BJP's ekta yatra of hoisting flag in Lal Chowe would have surely disrupted the serenity of Kashmir if J@K government's timely intervention had not have been there.
It is really unfortunate that the BJP tried to derive political mileage out of one of the most sensitive issues in the Indian democracy - Kashmir. The fact that it chose to ignore the sensitivities of not only the people of Kashmir, but also the elected government of the state, the ruling party at the centre and its own allies, surely does not do much credit to its stature as the principal opposition party. The BJP has lost a valuable chance to contribute productively to the Kashmir problem and has cast a doubt in peoples' minds about its true intentions.
I totally disagree with the writer's view regarding this. First of all there is no point of Hindu-Muslim communalism here. It's a state like all other Indian states. Making so much fuss about this is not correct. Nobody would have been hurt by just hoisting flag.
Yes, it was positively about making trouble in the Kashmir valley and seeking dividends elsewhere.
And what is the rationale in not allowing the flag to be hoisted there?
Are we saying that Srinagar is not part of greater India?
Yes BJP may be using it for its own political purpose but not allowing the flag to be hoisted is an insult to all of us who believe that J&K is part of India.
Although everyone knows that the BJP tried to politicize the issue, one question lingers in our minds, Why can't we hoist the flag? Isn't J&K an integral part of India?
Agreed, this BJP yatra would have involved more than a few party flags, apart from the Tricolour. It is clearly an attempt to land another blow on the Congress' coffin lid, already weighed down by scams. However, to say that the BJP's intent was heightening tensions and provoking violence in the region would be childish and rather myopic.
Pulverised by the general election, the BJP has tried to re-define itself, wisely pushing the not-in-vogue hindutva and related agendas to the background and retaining only the political contrariness typical of an opposition party. The party has been here long enough not to commit the immensely counter-productive 'historic blunder' of polarising religion and provoking violence.
The only context in which Nitish Kumar can be called a BJP ally, is numbers. He's hardly the example to use to point out sudden ideological differences.
While you have described the Ekta Yatra as expedition you have avoided making any reference to the emergency like conditions created by the state government. No one can disagree that the government has yielded to the separatists pressure. Why were the preventive arrests of separatists not made who had openly challenged that they would not allow the national flag to be hoisted at Lal Chowk? Why didn't the state government not hoist the flag at Lal Chowk? Where was the state government machinery when the Pakistan flag was hoisted at that place? Accepted that in view of the challenge by the separatists, there was every likelyhood of peace being broken but then the state government should have equally handled the separatists if it had the guts to do that. The government could also allow only one or two leaders of BJP to unfurl the national flag. If the separatists make anti-India speeches in the heart of the Capital of India, the peace is not broken because that is acceptable to the government of India. I do not belong to any party but as a citizen of this country, I feel badly hurt if the government has different standards for different communities.
Very true the intentions of the BJP led march was under suspicion right from its inception, but BJP was doing just what it is known for. By preventing them to hoist tri colour at Lal Chowk did only give them a point to rise, which they will be squabbling about for long.
A very timely Editorial. I am not a supporter of BJP on this issue.The entire Kashmir issue is handled by various governments and political parties without any clear policies and new approaches. Each party whether in Kashmir or in India changed their views according to their immediate requirements. Added to that there are many political parties in Jammu and Kashmir who are nourished by Pakistan and Leaders from Occupied Kashmir.They want either separation from India and or joining with Pakistan.In spite of nearly sixty years we have not solved the basic issue. Every year it becoming messier.Only when Mr Vajpayee was PM some progress was made with Pakistan for getting some understanding with Pakistan.But it failed. Now within Pakistan and occupied Kashmir Islamists have agained upper hand and forcing their policies.Some of the Kashmir political parties are favourable to them.BJP's timing of this incident should be condemned by all.At the same time it is high time there must be consensus among the political parties in India of the policies to be followed in Kashmir and also have a common approach in identifying the political parties in Kashmir who may be willing to join for a useful dialogue with out getting advice from Extreme Islamists from out side.
Your editorial is right that Bharathiya Janata Party very often fails to represent people of India in taking up the more serious problems of the day to day life like agitating against sky rocketing of prices, fighting Mega scams, unemployment and economic disparity etc. At this critical juncture, it is directly serving the interests of the ruling class by diverting the attention from serious issues to political gimmicks as unfurling tricolor in trouble state of J&K.
I never expected such a uneducated opinion from The Hindu. First thing, the yatra was organised by BJP's youth wing. The main leaders were not involved. Second thing, political parties are there to score political points - what is wrong in that? If the writer thinks that by hoisting a flag there is divide in Hindus and Muslims then he needs to read basic history books. And third thing, today they are prohibiting from hoisting a flag in J&K, tomorrow NE will say same then naxalities and the list will go on. I felt let down by the article as a reader of The Hindu
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