In yet another such instance, Pakistani flags appeared in rally organised by separatist leader, Shabir Ahmad Shah, in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Friday. Sources said that Shah was arrested by police on his way back to Srinagar.
“Kashmir is a disputed territory and it [hoisting of Pakistani flags] is not a crime but a matter of sentiment. We do not ask people to raise pro-Pakistan slogans or wave Pakistani flags. They do it on their own as their sentiments are attached with Pakistan,” Shah told the gathering of hundreds of people, several of whom raised the green flags.
While Pakistani flags have been a regular feature in all pro-freedom rallies in Kashmir, the new BJP-PDP government has termed it as the red line for political dissent.
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On Wednesday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh in Jammu had said that New Delhi would not tolerate the waving of Pakistani flags and pro Pakistan slogans.
Source in police said that an FIR was registered against Shah and was charged for ‘sedition and waging war against state.’ Shah is the second Kashmiri leader to be arrested after Masarat Alam for waving of Pakistani flags in their rallies.