Tiranga Yatra foiled, BJP blames Omar govt

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Kathua: BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar, arrested as a preventive measure to foil the party's bid to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day, have been released on Wednesday.

Following the release, the three leaders have lashed out at the Omar Abdullah government for foiling their Tiranga Yatra to Srinagar.

"On Republic Day two BJP leaders have been put behind the bras. The government will have to answer on this. We will hoist the flag in Kathua and then hold a press conference in Jammu," said Sushma Swaraj.

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Kathua: BJP leaders Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar, arrested as a preventive measure to foil the party's bid to hoist the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic Day, have been released on Wednesday.

Following the release, the three leaders have lashed out at the Omar Abdullah government for foiling their Tiranga Yatra to Srinagar.

"On Republic Day two BJP leaders have been put behind the bras. The government will have to answer on this. We will hoist the flag in Kathua and then hold a press conference in Jammu," said Sushma Swaraj.

She also confirmed that the Yatra will not be continued as it was scheduled to end on the Republic Day. "Ekata Yatra ends today," said Swaraj.

Senior BJP leader LK Advani too hit out at Omar Abdullah for blocking the BJP's efforts to hoist the Tricoulour in Srinagar's Lal Chowk.

"Yesterday's unrest in Jammu and Kashmir reminded me of Dr Mukherjee's sacrifice and our Cabinet ministers brought the existing situation of J&K to light," said Advani.

Arun Jaitley was reluctant to mar the spirit of Republic Day and congratulated people.

"They have released us from here. We will hoist the flag here, and I wish everyone a happy Republic Day. I will speak to the press after reaching the party office in Jammu," said Jaitley.

Citing security reasons, the Jammu and Kashmir government has arrested several BJP workers since this morning to stop the Yatra.

While most of the party workers were detained or prevented from approaching the area, one worker managed to get as close to Lal Chowk as 200 metres. Security forces though have arrested him.

Around 400 workers were detained on Tuesday as they crossed the Punjab-Jammu and Kashmir border. The Srinagar highway was also shut down to stop the Yatra.

More on: BJP, Tiranga Yatra, flag hoisting, Lal Chowk, Republic Day, Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah government