Nitish: why cause further tension in Kashmir?

Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said “there is no need for the BJP” to press ahead with its plan to hoist the national flag at Srinagar's Lal Chowk on Republic Day “given the fragile nature of peace prevailing in the Valley.”

There was “no necessity to subject Kashmir's hard-fought peace to further tension,” he said talking to journalists after a function held here to mark the birth anniversary of the former Chief Minister, Karpoori Thakur.

Earlier, Mr. Kumar said the UPA government failed to tackle corruption. It was the Centre's responsibility to recover the mind-boggling loot, involved in the 2G spectrum and CWG scandals, which was stashed away in foreign banks.

“Reveal names”

“I am surprised that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says he is helpless when it comes to disclosing names. Why shouldn't the people know the names of the scamsters who rob them of their hard-earned money?”

Balchand writes from New Delhi:

The Janata Dal (United) not only distanced itself from its senior partner — the BJP — but also disapproved of the controversial Ekta Yatra to Srinagar to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk on Republic Day.

Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav, who is also the convener of the NDA, maintained that the BJP had not done the right thing by launching the yatra particularly when Kashmir was a sensitive issue and the country was facing so many other burning problems which were crying for an immediate solution.

Mr. Yadav said that he had opposed the idea and had requested the BJP to drop the move and not act in any way that would disturb the peace that had been restored after a prolonged effort in which the contribution of the people of Kashmir was most crucial.

Stressing that peace had been restored in the valley by the local people for the sake of their children's future, Mr. Yadav said that the best course of action for the BJP would be to give up its programme that had created so much of tension.

The JD(U) president also had reservations with respect to Karnataka developments even as he attacked Governor H.R. Bhardwaj for his role in granting sanction for prosecution of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.

Mr. Yadav maintained that the Governor had breached the dignity of his office and also accused him of crossing his brief.

Clarifying that he was not supporting anyone in the controversy, Mr. Yadav underlined that it was his duty to speak out against any violation of constitutional dignity.

He virtually disapproved the continuation of Karnataka Chief Minister saying that he had taken up the matter with the BJP.