'Seditious act': BJP on Mehbooba's Tricolour remark

The Jammu and Kashmir Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti's arrest for her "seditious" remarks, wherein she said she would only hold the tricolour when the flag of the erstwhile state is restored.

The BJP said "no power on earth" can either hoist the state flag again or restore Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing reporters for the first time since her release from 14-month detention following the abrogation of Article 370 in August last year, Mehbooba said she will only hold the national tricolour after the flag of Jammu and Kashmir is restored.

In an act seen as defiance, the flag of the erstwhile state was prominently placed on a table in front of the People's Democratic Party president along with that of her party during the presser.

"I request Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to take cognisance of seditious remarks of Mehbooba Mufti, book her for the seditious act and put her behind bars," Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Ravinder Raina told reporters.

"We will sacrifice every drop of our blood for our flag, country and motherland. J-K is an integral part of our country, so only one flag can be hoisted in J-K and that is the national flag," he said.

Raina said the party will not tolerate such "nefarious designs" aimed at instigating the people of Kashmir.

"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 said.

If Kashmiri leaders are feeling insecure in India, they can go to Pakistan and China, he added.

The Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee also condemned Mufti's statement on the Tricolour, saying it is unacceptable and has hurt sentiments of people.

"Such statements are intolerable and unacceptable in any society," JKPCC chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said.

Reacting to her statement, Sharma said it was highly provocative and irresponsible and has hurt sentiments of people.

He said the National flag is the symbol of honour for the country and reminds of the sacrifices of crores of Indians to achieve freedom and to protect the dignity, honour and the territorial integrity of the country.

He said such statements will defeat the democratic and constitutional struggle for achieving any just right.

"She should desist from such outrageous utterances," the JKPCC spokesperson said.

It was for the first time that the PDP displayed the flag of the erstwhile state at a party function or a presser.

"This is my flag," Mehbooba said, pointing to the flag of the erstwhile state when a reporter asked her about her statement that if Article 370 was revoked, there will be no one left to hold India's flag.

"When this flag of ours is restored, we will hold that flag (Tricolour) also. But we will not hold any other flag till the time our flag, which was robbed from us, comes into our hold," she said.

During her presser, Mehbooba accused the BJP of "looting" the dignity of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We had acceded to a liberal, democratic, secular India. Let me tell them we are not comfortable, we are incompatible with today's India where minorities and Dalits are not safe and where they tried to disrespect us by looting our dignity," she said.

Referring to the Centre's move to abrogate Article 370 on August 5 last year, Raina said no decision taken by the government can be reversed.

He said Article 370 gave rise to separatism, terrorism and was instrumental in killings of thousands of people.

"As the government has permanently scrapped Article 370, no power on earth can restore it. No power on earth can hoist any flag other than the national flag in J-K," he said.