Omar meets PC; discusses BJP's Lal Chowk march

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called on Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday morning and discussed with him the current situation in the state.

Amongst other issues, the two leaders discussed Bharatiya Janata Party's Exta Yatra, during which it has proposed to hoist the national tricolour at the historic Lal Chowk area of Srinagar on January 26, on which CM Abdullah has expressed reservations.

Sources in the state government say the BJP's march, flagged off earlier this month by party chief Nitin Gadkari in Kolkata, may not be allowed to enter the state. The yatra is made up of largely youth workers of the BJP and is headed from West Bengal to Srinagar.

Separatists have threatened to carry out their own march to Lal Chowk on that day to counter BJP's march.

"During their five years rule, the BJP did not come here with the flag. Instead they came a with peace process. On January 26, you will see, who gets to hoist the flag at Lal Chowk," said Yasin Malik, leader of the Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front.

Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting, Omar said that he has brought the matter to the notice of the home minister and it is upto him to take a decision.

"In the national interest, they (BJP) should not do anything that could precipitate trouble and once again reignite the sort of problems that we, with great difficulty dealt with, in the last summer," Abdullah said.

Asked what steps his administration plan to take, Abdullah said, "Suitable measures would be taken to deal with the situation."