The sham of quasi-patriotism was manifest in the action of the BJP leaders and activists who embarked on an Ekta Yatra to hoist the national flag in Srinagar on Republic Day. Whether the arrest of its leaders in Lakhanpur was justified or not only the situation in Jammu and Kashmir can tell. But the nation, as a whole, has been jolted by the party's sensational act.
The move to hoist the national flag in Lal Chowk did not have much to do with patriotism. If anything, it had the potential to instigate communalism in the sensitive State.
Bhavesh Kumar,
Hyderabad
The BJP ended up adding fuel to a blazing fire. The main Opposition party is expected to restrain the ruling party. But the BJP acted irresponsibly, contributing to tension and lawlessness. The party should know that a flag-hoisting ceremony should not lead to bloodshed.
Muhammad Faiz,
Kozhikode
The Ekta Yatra did nothing other than creating a lot of confusion and making avoidable noise. Anybody living in India is free to hoist the Indian Tricolour on Republic Day and Independence Day. There was nothing extraordinary for a crowd under the BJP banner wanting to do it. The Kashmir government could have avoided raising a hue and cry. That said, the BJP leaders should be taken to task for violating the rules of handling the national flag to add pomp and colour to their procession.
T.K.D. Nair,
Kozhikode
I don't think there is anything wrong in hoisting the national flag on Republic Day. Any Indian can do it anywhere in India. It is the Kashmir government's responsibility to provide protection to those who want to hoist the national flag in the State.
Asheesh Agrawal,
Moradabad
Hoisting the national flag in a State capital surrounded by bullet-proof glass is no challenge. Half the security force deployed in blocking the BJP leaders from entering Kashmir would have been enough to ensure that the national flag was hoisted in Srinagar.
Meera Krishnamurthy,
Coimbatore
Around this time of the year and around the middle of August we all are overwhelmed with an emotion called patriotism, which sadly escapes us throughout the rest of the year. For sure, we are Indians on January 26 and August 15 but on the other 363 days we are Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Tamilians, Marwaris, Bengalis, etc. I am not cynical about the future of India but there are a few points which I want to make.
What exactly is patriotism? The dictionary says it is love and devotion towards one's country. But patriotism should not be limited to a sense of reverence towards the abstract notion of a nation. It is also love towards fellow countrymen. There is no doubt that we must all revere our national identity and national symbols, but more than that we must respect one another.
Sikander Khan,
New Delhi
