MEHBOOBA SHOULD RESIGN OVER TRICOLOUR REMARK: CONG

The Congress demanded Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti’s resignation on Sunday over her flag remarks, saying no-one has the right to insult the tricolour.

The party said she has hurt the sentiments of the people and asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to explain what kind of freedom is being advocated by their coalition partner People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) government and the chief minister.

“Congress has taken strong exception to the utterances of chief minister. No one has the right to insult the national flag as great sacrifices and nation’s honour is attached with it,” state Congress unit’s chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said.

“Mehbooba has no right to quote the example of national flag in any form and hurt the nationalist sentiments by insulting it, what so ever may be her reasoning or context,” he added.

At an event in New Delhi on Friday, Mehbooba had said, “Who is doing it? Why are they doing it? (challenging the Article 35-A). Let me tell you that my party and other parties who carry the national flag there (in J&K) despite all risks .... I have no doubt in saying that there will be no one to hold it (national flag) (if it is tinkered).”

We seek answers from the BJP over the statement and utterances of Mehbooba Mufti. She is even questioning the utility of NIA investigations as well propagating her illogical and highly objectionable agenda,” he said.

“What kind of freedom of idea is being advocated by their coalition partner (PDP) and the chief minister. She has lost right to continue in office,” he added.

The BJP on Saturday had expressed “shock” over Mehbooba’s remarks and asserted that Article 35-A of the Constitution, which grants special status to the J&K, is “not a sacred cow that cannot be touched”.