Srinagar: National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah Thursday said no one should have objection to hoisting the national flag as part of the Centre’s ‘Har Ghar Tiranga’ campaign, but there should be no coercion as well.
“Why should anyone have any objection to it? It is the country’s flag, there is a permission to hoist it at home. This is the government’s mission and I do not think anyone should have any objection to it. The only difference is that there should be no compulsion. No one should forcibly stop anyone from hoisting it and in the same manner no one should force anyone to hoist it,” Omar told reporters during a function at Government Dental College here.
The former chief minister quoted media reports saying that schools in some districts were told to collect money from students and staff members for tricolor while amount for the same has also been deducted from salary of government employees. Omar said ‘this shouldn’t be done’.
“There is a need to think over that, but as far as the ‘Har ghar Tiranga’ campaign is concerned, I do not think there should be any objection,” he added.
Omar declined to comment on a question about Assembly elections in J&K, saying “I have not heard anything about elections.”
On Assembly elections, the NC leader said he did not come across anything about the election in Jammu and Kashmir and that he cannot comment on it.
“Government should look into the matter, as I came across some media reports claiming schools in some districts are told to collect money for tricolor from students and staff members while amount for the same is deducted from the salary of employees, this shouldn’t be done,” he added.
