Padgaonkar against BJP precipitating situation in J-K

New Delhi, Jan 25 (PTI) Warning BJP against precipitatingsituation in Jammu and Kashmir, Centre''s interlocutor onKashmir Dileep Padgaonkar today asked political parties tocome on a single platform and appeal to BJP to refrain frommaking the situation worse in the state.

Commenting on the Ekta Yatra aimed to hoist tricolour atLal Chowk in Srinagar on Republic day, Padgaonkar said, "Ithink the way out is for the entire political class of thiscountry to once again appeal to the BJP leadership not toprecipitate matters."

He accused the BJP of resorting to its "tactics" andsuggested it to go along with the rest of the political classto show solidarity with the people of the strife-torn state.

"One is in complete solidarity with the fact that one canhoist the national flag anywhere in national territory. Mindyou, this is not the first time. Unfortunately, the BJP hasresorted to tactics of this kind.

"A few years ago they made it a point to hoist tricolouron a playground in Karnataka near Bangalore where thesituation was quiet tense. One can only hope and pray thatbetter sense will prevail," Padgaonkar, an eminent journalist,said.

He said the next time around the BJP wants to hoist theflag in Lal Chowk they take the entire political class withthem. "Do not forget that when the all-party delegationvisited Srinagar, they were warmly received by everyone. Thatparticular visit had a positive impact on the situation. Sothe next time around it might be a good idea to go along withthe rest of the political class to show solidarity with thepeople of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

"The essential thing now is to win hearts and minds and myfear is that this particular unilateral gesture is not goingto do that," Padgaonkar said.