ISIS flag incident should not be undermined: BJP

Jammu, Oct 16: Voicing concern over incidents of waiving of

flag in Srinagar, BJP said on Thursday such actions should be dealt with sternly and the "threat" must not be "undermined".

"We fully share the concerns of GOC of the Army's 15 Corp Lt Gen Subrata Saha that the waving of ISIS flags thrice in Srinagar in recent days is a very serious development," BJP state president and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma told reporters.

"Omar (Abdullah) is undermining ISIS threat. Omar government is callous and irresponsible," Sharma alleged. On Tuesday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had rubbished the waving of ISIS flag in the Valley as an act by "some idiots".

"You have to understand that no ISIS group has been identified so far in the Valley. The flag of the ISIS was waved by some idiots which does not mean that ISIS has any presence in Kashmir. Unfortunately, some channels have tried to make an issue out of this and drag me into this as if we are not doing anything on this," Omar had told reporters in New Delhi.

Sharma: Omar government is callous and irresponsible

He had said the flag was waved on three occasions by some youths for some time and in each matter a case was registered and some arrests had also been made.

A protester was seen waving flag of terrorist organisation Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) last week after Eid prayers whereas in July also similar waving of flag was seen in the Valley. The BJP leader said, "Had J&K government acted on the day the ISIS recruits and idolisers raised their ugly heads and crushed them with heavy hands, things in the Valley today would have been somewhat different."

Lt Gen Subrata Saha yesterday said the waving of ISIS flag in Kashmir is a matter of concern and "deserves the highest attention of the security agencies" so that the Valley youths are prevented from being lured into the ranks of the jihadist organisation.

Lt Gen Saha, while noting that the ability of ISIS to attract a large number of volunteers, had said concerted efforts have to be made to secure the "right to prosperity" of the youth in the Valley if they were to be kept away from the path of terror.

PTI