With the Bharatiya Janata Party planning to hoist national flag in Srinagar on the Republic Day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said parties should desist from scoring "political points" or "promoting divisive agendas" and peace should not be disturbed in the "sensitive" Jammu and Kashmir.
Observing that the Republic Day is "a solemn occasion", he said, "It is not an occasion to score political points, to embarrass state and local administrations, to create situations that could lead to entirely avoidable problems, or to promote divisive agendas."
"It is my hope that all our citizens and political parties will heed this call and will do nothing that will disturb peace and harmony, or detract in any way from the dignity of Republic Day," Singh said in a statement.
He said it was "all the more important to observe maximum restraint particularly in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir."
Though he did not name anybody, he was apparently referring to BJP's 'Ekta Yatra' which is planned to proceed to Srinagar to hoist the national tricolour at the historic Lal Chowk, because of which the government is apprehending trouble.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has made it clear that it will not allow hoisting of the national flag by BJP on that day but the party is adamant on going ahead with the plan.
Singh observed that over the years, the states have devised their own time-tested and publicly-accepted procedures for the Republic Day celebrations within a common national framework.
"The significance and solemnity of the occasion demand that these continue to be followed. It is up to the states to ensure that public traditions are honoured and they would be well within their rights to insist upon puntilious adherence," he said, adding the government of India would support them in this endeavour.
He reminded that the Republic Day was an occasion when citizens of India commemorate the proud Republic's founding. "It is a day that joins all Indians in a shared celebration of modern nationhood," PM Dr Singh added.
