Ekta Yatra: BJP may initiate action against J-K Govt

New Delhi, Jan 27 (PTI) Miffed at the "illegaldetention" of its senior leaders during the Ekta Yatra, BJPtoday said it is mulling initiating legal action against theJammu and Kashmir government on the issue.

"Section 144 Cr PC was used to extern three leaders.

They were kept in illegal confinement at the Jammu airport forsix hours. Then they were physically abducted and takenoutside Jammu and Kashmir. We are mulling over taking legalaction against the state," a senior BJP leader said.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj andher Rajya Sabha counterpart Arun Jaitely were arrested by thestate government when they tried to enter the state on Tuesdayto proceed to Srinagar to hoist the national falg at LalChowk.

The principal opposition also questioned howprohibitory order could used to confine a person for carryingthe national flag on Republic Day.

"The senior BJP leaders were in Jammu. Had theyreached Srinagar, may be prohibitory orders could be takenagainst them. Why was Jammu declared a prohibitory zone?" thesenior leader asked.

The party has also taken note of the fact that JKLFleader Yasin Malik and his supporters were allowed to reachLal Chowk in Srinagar before their arrest while this wasnot done in the case of BJP leaders.

"This is nothing but psychological surrender to theseparatists by the Jammu and Kashmir government and theCentre," a senior BJP leader alleged.

The "hijack" of a train carrying BJP supporters fromMaharashtra - which was stopped at Ahmednagar and sent back-has also angered the party, which had chartered the train forRs 64 Lakh.

However, the party is upbeat about the Ekta Yatra asit seems to have gained politically from the event.

"It is a big gain for us as it starts a fresh debateabout our ideological agenda," a senior leader said, addingthat this would benefit the party.

Another gain is that this Yatra has brought a newresurgence and enthusiasm in the party, senior leadersclaimed.

The principal opposition feels the manner in which theYatra culminated has generated more acceptability of the partyand its stand on the issue.

Had the state government arrested most of the leadersat Jammu and allowed some youth wing leaders to go to Srinagarand hoist the national tricolour at the BJP state headquartersthere, the political gains would not have been much, feelparty leaders.

BJP leaders confessed that they did not expect theOmar Abdullah government to allow any BJP leader tounfurl the flag at Lal Chowk.

BJP leaders also conceded that the Yatra had helpedthe party in sending across a message to its electoralconstituency in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the rest of thecountry.