NIT row: BJP warns of reaction against J&K students elsewhere

Jammu: BJP today cautioned that the way outstation students are being dealt with at NIT Srinagar could have an impact on students from Jammu and Kashmir studying elsewhere in the country. "The elements involved in the misaction are anti-national and anti-people who want to destroy the peaceful atmosphere in the state by indulging in such type of violence which tantamount to instigating similar reactions against students from the state studying outside the state and putting to risk and jeopardy their lives," said Sunil Sethi, chief spokesperson of BJP's state unit. Noting that Jammu and Kashmir is poised to get AIIMS and IIT, he said, "Bad treatment given to our fellow countrymen in the state will dissuade the students and teachers to come to these institutions which looks like concerted effort to isolate the state from national mainstream." He called upon the state govt administration to take effective and strong action against all persons involved, including police officials, to instill confidence among outstation students. He further said raising of national flag and chanting national slogans are a matter of pride and the state has to facilitate activities which propagate nationalism. Action should be taken against all such elements who are indulging in anti-national slogans and hoisting flags of Pakistan which amounts to supporting and propagating terrorism and separatism in the state and rest of country, Sethi said. He said there should be total ban on sale and possession of Pakistani Flags in the state with penal consequences to stop the politics of hatred in the state.