J-K border with Punjab, HP sealed to stop BJP's 'Ekta Yatra'

Jammu, Jan 24 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sealed its borders with Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) youth wing from entering the state.

The Bhartiya Yuva Morcha proposes to take its Ekta Yatra to Lal Chowk in Srinagar and hoist the National Flag on the January 26.

The state government has made elaborate security arrangements to maintain law and order keeping the Yatra in mind.

Locals said security checks are in full swing and Section 144, which prohibits people from holding public meetings and carrying firearms may be imposed in the state.

"The police are checking the locals of the region as well. The border of Punjab and Lakhanpur has been totally sealed. We have heard that there is a meeting going on here, between the Kathua and Punjab administrations. We also heard that the Section 144 might be imposed in the region tomorrow," said Ranjeet, a resident of Lakhanpur.

Meanwhile, Ashwini, a BJP member from Punjab, said there are reports of vehicles being stopped at the border, but in spite of that, if BJP workers arrive, they would be welcomed.

"The game that the government is playing and the reports that we are receiving of stopping the vehicles, not permitting them to enter the state and putting barriers at places; in spite of that if 100,000 workers come to Pathankot, we will welcome them, will make arrangements for their stay and will surely show them the way of moving ahead," said Ashwini.

The State Government has made it clear that it will not allow any flag hoisting at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on the Republic Day.

The BJP has, however, reiterated its resolve to hoist the tricolour at Lal Chowk.

Earlier, six BJP leaders were arrested and a train carrying party workers to Jammu was sent back to Karnataka without the passengers coming to know.

Senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley said that the arrest of BJP Yuva Morcha activists and sealing of state border is undemocratic and not acceptable to the party.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national president Anurag Thakur is leading the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra - flagged off on January 12 at Kolkata and scheduled to reach Srinagar on January 26.

The yatra will cover 3,037 km and enter the State on the afternoon of January 24 at Pathankot. (ANI)