Karat asks BJP to drop flag hoisting programme

Chennai, Jan 25 (PTI) Joining the chorus of partiesopposing BJP''s Ekta Yatra, CPI-M urged the saffron party notto go ahead with its flag hoisting programme in Srinagartomorrow, saying it would be "harmful and not help thesituation".

"Given the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the programmethat the BJP has announced in Srinagar will be very harmful.

It will not help the situation," he told reporters here today.

BJP should not go ahead with its programme (of hoistingthe national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar), he said.

Karat was speaking after calling on AIADMK supremoJayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence here to invite herto participate in the Feb 9 ''mass agitation'' in New Delhi byvarious parties against price rise.

On his meeting with Jayalalithaa, the CPI-M leader saidthe party''s state committee decision to have an alliance withthe AIADMK was also conveyed to her, but did not elaborate.

Karat maintained that he had only come to invite her toparticipate in the anti-price rise agitation. Jayalalithaawould decide on her participation later, he added.