PM let down nation with flag hoisting message: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday night expressed "shock and disappointment" over Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement conveying his reservations against its plan to hoist the national flag in Srinagar on January 26, charging he has "let down the nation".

"It is not only disappointing and shocking but the PM has let down the nation by making such a statement, which is unbelievable", BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.

He said that instead of supporting a "nationalist" cause launched by the BJP youth wing, the PM has sadly preferred to disapprove of it.

With BJP adamant on going ahead with its flag hoisting plan, the Prime Minister on Saturday asked parties to desist from scoring "political points" or "promoting divisive agendas" on the occasion of the Republic Day and peace should not be disturbed in the "sensitive" Jammu and Kashmir.

In its reaction, BJP said "we would like to know from the PM whether the act of hoisting and saluting the national flag anywhere on Indian soil is anti-national. By voicing such an insensitive reaction, the PM is emboldening the separatists, which will make them celebrate."

Rudy said BJP was more astonished that hoisting the flag is being equated by the PM as a scramble to score political points.

"Is the PM hinting of reverting to the pre-1953 status (of Jammu and Kashmir)? It seems the PM has failed to recall that the youth who had commenced the yatra from birth place of Shyama Prasad Mukkherjee will travel across 8 states to reach Kashmir", the BJP leader said.

Observing that the Republic Day is "a solemn occasion", the Prime Minister said "it is not an occasion to score political points, to embarrass state and local administrations, to create situations that could lead to entirely avoidable problems, or to promote divisive agendas."