“We will raise the national flag only once our state flag is back,” the former J&K CM had said on Friday, inviting fierce criticism from the BJP and the Congress.
Shortly after People Democratic Party (PDP)’s President, Mehbooba Mufti spoke in her first ever press conference after being released from the detention of 14 months, the BJP demanded action against her for “seditious remarks”. “We will raise the national flag only once our state flag is back. The national flag is here only because of this (the Jammu and Kashmir) flag and constitution. We are linked to the rest of the country because of this flag,” the former J&K CM had said on Friday, inviting fierce criticism from the BJP and the Congress.
J&K BJP president Ravinder Raina, slamming Mehbooba Mufti, told reporters: “I request Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take note of (the) seditious remarks of Mehbooba Mufti, book her for the seditious act and put her behind bars”.
“We will sacrifice every drop of our blood for our flag, country and motherland. Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of our country, so only one flag can be hoisted… and that is the national flag,” Raina was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
“I warn leaders like Mehbooba Mufti not to instigate the people of Kashmir. We will not allow anyone to disturb peace, normalcy and brotherhood. In case anything wrong happens, she will have to face the consequences,” he further added.
Her party would not “abandon the constitutional battle” to reclaim special status withdrawn by the centre in a contentious decision taken in August last year, Ms Mufti said on Friday as she opened an attack against the centre. “A robber may be mighty but he has to return the stolen goods. They demolished the constitution… Parliament had no power to take away special status,” Ms Mufti told reporters, blasting centre for its move.
“Those who feel we will abandon Kashmir are mistaken,” she said, adding that she would not contest any election until Article 370 is restored. “I have contested elections under our own constitution. How can I contest elections when that constitution has been abolished,” she said.
Congress, along with the BJP, criticised the PDP chief’s remarks. The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee’s chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said: “Such statements are intolerable and unacceptable in any society.” He further added that it was highly provocative and irresponsible and has hurt sentiments of people.
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