Chidambaram asks BJP to respect orders passed by J-K government

New Delhi, Jan 25 (ANI): Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said that the orders passed by the Jammu and Kashmir Government regarding Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 'Tiranga Yatra' should be respected.

In a statement, Chidambaram said: "Yesterday, I spoke to Arun Jaitley and Omar Abdullah. I told Jaitley that he and his colleagues had made their point and that they should not defy the orders of the State Government, which was the best judge to decide whether there was a threat to law and order and public peace."

"I requested them to return to Delhi. The BJP leaders were also offered an opportunity to address a press conference at Jammu airport and, thereafter, leave Jammu and Kashmir. Regrettably, they turned down the offer," he added.

Chidambaram said in the circumstances, the State Government had to remove the BJP leaders and take them to Madhopur in Punjab. They were lodged for the night at the Rest House in Madhopur.

"The Jammu and Kashmir Government has made it clear that it would not allow any yatra to Srinagar; nor would it allow any assembly at Lal Chowk, Srinagar," he added.

The Home Minister further said that the State Government has also made it clear that it would not allow the BJP leaders to cross the bridge connecting Madhopur and Lakhanpur and enter Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP leaders should respect the orders passed by the State Government.

"It would be most unfortunate if the BJP leaders defy the restrictions placed by the State Government or deliberately cause a breach of the peace. There is no justification whatsoever to push a political agenda that will certainly affect peace and law and order in the State of Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

Drawing the attention of the BJP leaders to the statement made by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 22, Chidambaram said the Republic Day is a day of celebration and is not an occasion for divisive politics.

"I would request the two Leaders of the Opposition (in Parliament) and their colleagues to give up the path of confrontation, return to Delhi and join the celebrations in Delhi on Republic Day," he added.