BJP rejects Omar's invitation to attend Republic Day celebrations

Jammu, Jan 26 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday turned down Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's invitation to attend the Republic Day celebrations.

Abdullah spoke to senior BJP leader Arun Jailtey last night and invited him along with Sushma Swaraj, Ananth Kumar and other party workers to attend the Republic Day celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir.

He also appealed to the people to defeat the separatists plan to disrupt the Republic Day celebrations.

The BJP leaders reportedly rejected the offer terming it a mere 'lip service', saying Omar can't invite the leaders to the flag hoisting after arresting them for the same

Earlier on Tuesday, scores of BJP activists including party veterans Arun Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj, Ananth Kumar and Anurag Thakur were taken into custody under Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) while marching towards Jammu and Kashmir from Punjab to carry on with the plans of hoisting the national flag at Srinagar's Lal Chowk on Republic Day.

The marchers carrying the national flag in their hands and shouting slogans "Bharat Mata ki jai" breached the barriers put up by the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

On Monday, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj were not allowed to leave the Jammu airport.

Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha national president Anurag Thakur is leading the Rashtriya Ekta Yatra, which was scheduled to reach Srinagar today.

The Yatra was expected to cover 3,037 km and enter the State on the afternoon of January 24 at Pathankot. (ANI)