Pak flags waved once again in Kashmir; Shabbir Shah arrested

Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested Separatist leader Shabbir Shah for waving Pakistani flags and chanted pro-Pakistan and anti-India slogans during a rally in South Kashmir’s Anantnag. Three Pakistani flags were waved for 30 minutes during the rally in the Kashmir valley and also brunt the flag of saffron party BJP, which is part of coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir.

The incident comes two days after Home Minister Rajnath Singh issued warning to Kashmiri separatists over raising anti-India slogans,. Rajnath Singh had said, “We are ready to talk to everyone. Democracy is all about communications but Pakistani flags won’t be tolerated on Kashmiri soil,” adding if pro-Pakistan slogans are raised, strong action would be taken against those responsible by the state government.”

BJP spokesman in Kashmir, Khalid Jehangir, strongly condemned the waving of Pakistani flag and burning of party flag. Khalid said strict action as per law should be taken against the people who raised the Pakistani flags and burnt BJP flag.

This is the 4th incident of waving of Pakistani flags during separatist rallies in the Valley since April 15. Last month, separatist leader Masarat Alam was arrested for raising anti-India slogans and waving Pakistani flags in the violence-hit state. Last week, supporters of Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umer Farooq had raised Pakistani flags in Kashmir along with terror organisation Lashkar-e-Toiba’s flags and pelted stones at security forces.