JAMMU : Jammu and Kashmir’s Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today said that the anti-national activities like raising Pakistani flags and pro-Khalistani slogans by the separatists have been going on since long.
“I want to put the facts straight. So far as the anti- national activities are concerned, they (separatists and some sections of Sikhs) are doing it (raising of Pak flags and slogans in Kashmir and Bhinderanwala’s posters and pro Khalistan slogans) since long,” Singh said here.
“The question is whether the government is acting or not? We have acted. We arrested Masarat Alam and put him behind bars. We have lodged FIRs against others. They are being tried. Law will take its own course,” Dy CM said.
“They (some elements) are doing it here (in Jammu). So far as this (coming up of Bhinderanwala posters and pro- Khalistani slogans) issue is concerned, we have filed FIRs against those involved,” Dy CM said.
He was replying to a question whether BJP has tolerated such issues of raising Pak flags and Pak slogans in Kashmir Valley and Bhindranwale posters and ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ slogans in Jammu.
He said, “We did not do any programme on the government side. These programmes are happening in the Gurudwaras. They were doing some programmes during the day in connection with operation blue star and they were doing it routinely”.
“Once the posters (of Bhinderanwala) were there, the police definitely acted and they had to act and ultimately that become the cause for this entire incident,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister further said, “Who says that we had allowed this? They were doing it (raising of posters of Bhinderanwala and Pro-Khalistan slogans) earlier also and they were not seeking any permission for it from anybody. And will ask the previous governments why they allowed it to happen in Gurudwaras.”
“But when this flared up, our priority was to cool down the tempers. That was our first priority. We never wanted those elements who wanted to vitiated the atmosphere and trying to divide the state on the same lines that used to happen in past, to succeed. That was our strategy,” he said on violence triggered in direction in Jammu.
He said, “We succeeded in that and we assure you that
action will be taken against those involved and law will take its own course”.
“We will never allow this to happen again. We cannot do it. It was taking a ugly turn so our priority was to cool down the tempers. Ultimately we succeeded in that and now law will take its own course,” he added.
On the issue of Masarat and flagging of Pakistani flags, the Centre and the state government have firmly acted against them, he said, adding that Masarat Alam was released on the directions of the Supreme Court and the process started during Governor’s rule.
“It was said that if you had to arrest the Masarat Alam, you have to given him one weeks time. He again did the mistake and we immediately took action and sent him behind the bars. We have clearly said that this government will not tolerated any kind of anti-nationalism on the soil of J&K,” he said.
On the issue of whether BJP has given up its core agenda of its nationalism, he said, “Initially this message had gone down to the people as we committed mistake. We initially reacted and now this notion has been dispel”.
On the issue of state of separatists that Amarnath yatra is destroying the environment on mountains in Kashmir, Singh said,”It is an emotional issue of Hindus and nobody can dictate on it. Who are they to decide the religious issues of Hindus. They are trying to communalise the situation”. (AGENCIES)
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