BJP's flag hoisting plan provocative: Congress

“This is a provocative act,” said Technical Education, Youth Services and Sports Minister R.S. Chib, while talking to media on the sidelines of a function at Ranbirsinghpora, a border town about 30 km from Jammu.

He justified National Conference (NC) leader and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s tough action against the BJP.

Six BJP activists were arrested in Srinagar Saturday. Police have started arresting BJP activists carrying national flags or any material related to the march.
The NC and the Congress are partners in the state government.

Chib was speaking on BJP's "Rashtriya Ekta Yatra" which is scheduled to enter Jammu and Kashmir Monday and unfurl the national flag in Srinagar.

“The BJP’s yatra will provoke the people in Kashmir and that can deteriorate the situation in the Valley,” Chib said.

Chib's party and cabinet colleague, Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma too lashed out at the BJP for its plan. He said that this was a "political stunt".

Kashmiri separatists have given a call to foil the plans of the BJP. Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front has given a call for “Lal Chowk chalo” (march to Lal Chowk) to show “Kashmiris’ anger against the (BJP) yatra”.