JKLF supremo Yasin Malik who has announced a parallel march to Lal Chowk on Republic Day to foil BJP’s plan to hoist the Tricolour at the square has gone into hiding. A police team, which raided his house at Maisuma, located a little distance away to the north-west of Lal Chowk, did not find him there.
In a statement, Malik has said he will lead a march to the square on January 26 and unfurl the JKLF flag. “ In the garb of flag hoisting, BJP is preparing to launch an assault on Valley. But we will not let the party succeed,” Malik said. “Our programme for January 26 would be go ahead at all costs.”
However, Malik said that JKLF would give a befitting reply to BJP “strictly within the parameters of democratic principles and non-violence” . “By peacefully resisting BJP plan we want to send a message to the people in India that Kashmir is a disputed state and that only its solution would guarantee peace and prosperity in the subcontinent,”Malik said.
Malik’s march has been supported by the moderate Hurriyat leader Bilal Gani Lone who has said that BJP wanted to create trouble in the state.
Surprisingly, hardline Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani has said: To raise a flag amidst the protection of six lakh troops is no courageous act. Our stand is that this (flag raising) will make no difference to the status of Kashmir problem which will be there after BJP goes back.”