Won't tolerate separatists raising Pro-Pak slogans, flags: Rajnath Singh

Jammu: Offering a soft stand to those who wish to hold dialogue to discuss all "vexed issues", the Centre on Wednesday sent a strong message to separatists saying,those raising pro-Pak slogans and waving Pakistani flags on Indian territory will be dealt with severely.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. PTI

"We are ready to talk to everyone. Democracy is all about keeping open the communication lines, but we won't tolerate anybody raising pro-Pak slogans and raising Pakistani flags on Indian territory. They will be severely dealt with," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said while addressing the Jan Kalyan Parv function in Jammu.

Singh said the state government has been asked to take strong action against people who raise pro-Pakistan slogans and wave Pakistani flag. "The Jammu and Kashmir government has been acting on this direction."

The Home Minister said he feels pained to see the youth of the state, especially of Kashmir, being misguided.

"It pains me to see the youth being misguided. When some misguided youth raise pro-Pak slogans and wave Pakistan flags, it is not a good thing. I appeal to such youths not to get misguided. We need everybody's cooperation to move forward, to take this country forward," he said.

He said it was against the tenets of Islam and every other religion to praise another country while living in one.

"It goes against the tenets of Islam or even against the tenets of Hinduism to praise another country while living in one country. Islam and even Hinduism do not accept this," he said.

He said the BJP wants the coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir to succeed as the alliance was formed on the agenda of development of the state.

"In Jammu and Kashmir, we want the alliance between the PDP and BJP to succeed. While Mufti Mohammed Sayeed is heading the government, our side is represented by Dr Nirmal Singh and other able ministers," he said.

He said the aim of the coalition is to bring development in the state and that he was aware of the problems being faced by the people of the state.

"We are aware of the problems being faced by the people of the state, be it that of Kashmiri Pandit community, or that of the refugees from West Pakistan or Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,or that of the migrants from border areas," he said, adding that Centre was considering these problems and was working to resolve them soon.

On the rehabilitation of Kashmiri Pandit community, "We have kept provisions in the budget for the rehabilitation of the Kashmiri pandit community to the Valley and the Chief Minister has said that he will identify the land for their rehabilitation and the proposal will begin soon," he said.

PTI