Waving of Pakistani flags, raising pro-Pak slogans 'unacceptable': Mufti

Srinagar/New Delhi, Apr 16: Under attack over pro- Pakistan slogans and flags being waved at a rally by hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed on Wednesday said it was "not acceptable" and "will not be tolerated'.

Hours after the rally in Srinagar on Wednesday, Sayeed had received a phone call from Home Minister Rajnath Singh asking him to take "immediate and stringent" action against the law breakers.

The Home Minister today asserted, "We will not tolerate anyone raising slogans like 'Pakistan zindabad' on Indian soil.

"There can be no compromise on national security. Politics cannot impinge on national security," he told Sayeed.

The state Government, in which BJP is an alliance partner, came in for a flak over its decision to allow Geelani to hold a rally after five years in Srinagar city as pro-Pakistan slogans were raised and Pakistani flags waved.

During the rally, separatist Masarat Alam, released from jail last month, praised founder of Lashker-e-Taiba terror outfit Hafeez Mohammed Sayeed and asked people to join hands with his outfit.

Pushed on a backfoot, Sayeed tried to defend his decision of giving permission to the rally but made it clear that hoisting of Pakistan flags and raising pro-Pakistan slogans "is not acceptable and will not be tolerated."

"I think authorities have taken note of that. They have taken a video of what has happened. I think law will take its own course, action will be taken.

"As far as the public meeting is concerned, I think it is okay. As I say, democracy is a battle of ideas. They are free to have their own way, speak their own mind but something which is not acceptable (hoisting of Pakistan flag or raising Pakistan slogans) will not be tolerated."

PTI