Gadkari condemns Centre''s ''repressive'' approach to Ekta Yatra

K J M Varma

Beijing, Jan 24 (PTI) BJP President Nitin Gadkari, whois on a five-day visit to China, today condemned the Centre''sattempt to stop his party''s Ekta Yatra as "repressive" andwarned that such an approach would lead to increase interrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Under the UPA regime, secessionists are enjoyingroyal treatment while nationalist and integrationists arebeing assailed simply because they have plans to unfurl thenational flag at the Lal Chowk in Srinagar," he said.

Gadkari, who is visiting Guangzhou today, also spokeby phone to Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) chief AnuragThakur who it leading the Yatra, and enquired about theobstacles being raised by the Centre and state government inthe onward march to Jammu and Kashmir.

"Now that the government has sent out a horrifyinglywrong signal to the secessionists by refusing the yatra tomove ahead, BJP is afraid that this will further boost theanti-nationalist''s morale," said Gadkari.

Gadkari warned that the "repressive" step to stop hisparty''s Yatra would lead to increase in terrorism in Jammu andKashmir.

"The government has always played to the gallery onthis issue and if this trend continues; terrorism may raiseits ugly head once again," he said.

Gadkari had flagged off the Yatra from Kolkata onJanuary 12, which is now about to enter Jammu on way toSrinagar.

The government has stepped up security with the BJPnot showing any sign of going back on its plan to hoist thenational flag at Lal Chowk on Wednesday.

Nearly 5,000 security personnel have been deployed atthe border of Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab, which has beensealed, to prevent activists of the party''s youth wing fromentering the state.

Gadkari said the secessionist elements in the Valleywill be the happiest lot on January 26, while those who wantto hoist flag in their own motherland will be put behind thebars.

The BJP chief said his party had always taken anon-confrontationist approach on the issue of integration ofJammu and Kashmir.

"BJP will not compromise at all and this Tiranga yatrawas aimed at just that," Gadkari underlined.

Gadkari, who visited Shanghai yesterday, isaccompanied by party leaders, Thawarchand Gehlot, Vijay Goel,Saudan Singh, Arti Mehra, Laxman Kova and political associateVinay Sahastrabuddhe on his China trip.