Why Kashmiri Muslims and Separatists won't condemn LET killings

As India woke up to the shocking incident in Sopore of the killing of two Christian teenage sisters by Lashkar-E-Taiaba Islamic Militants, condemnation poured in from everywhere except the fundamentalist separatists in the Kashmir Valley. Some tried to justify the killings not before faintly saying that 'killing wasn't sort of necessary'. But many were disappointed that by the end of the day, no mass condemnation took place. I was very impressed by Omar Abdullah's statement on the incident when he called a spade a spade and said that if this had been an accidental killing by the Security forces the whole valley in Kashmir would have been up in arms but there's barely muted condemnation this time around. The Timesnow video of Omar Abdullah's Comment on Sopore incident.

Arun Jaitley Sushma Swaraj Arrested but Defiant

Though BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley were detained by Omar's police as they tried to enter Kashmir from the Punjab border, both Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj were defiant. Speaking to the press both leaders criticized Omar saying it's sad that the Government protects those who burn our flags and hoist Pakistani flags while the BJP which just wanted to quietly hoist the flag is being militantly opposed. They maintained that no matter what happens BJP youth wing will unfurl the Indian TriColor also adoringly called  the Tiranga at Lal Chowk. Meanwhile CRPF has issued a statement that they will be hoisting the flag at LAL Chowk. Seems some sort of amicable solution has been through back channels. I hope for the sake of the valley and of the nation, that its true.  

The eye of the storm - Lal Chowk in Sri Nagar

Kashmiri Media's Reporting on BJP's Flag Hoisting at Lal Chow

The mood of the people in Kashmir may vary but as is the case elsewhere, the media's grabbed an opportunity to add fuel to the fire with its extremely biased and aggressive reporting. Caught up in his passionate commentary, the anchor in the bellow video actually gets the date wrong as 15th August instead of January 26th.

Its sad to see that the drama and politics over BJP's youth wing's 'Tiranga Yatra' has been so intense in the last few days, Manmohan Singh as is customary, speaking at eleventh hour and reiterating his party's line, while Omar Abdullah going so far as to block and detain top BJP leaders like Sushma Swaraj while they were entering the state; every one of course aware that they all come out shining to their own targeted galleries. The person who benefited the most so far has doubtless been J&K CM Omar Abdullah who by not even allowing some BJP leaders to enter the state has projected himself as the savior of peace to the moderates and as a defender of Kashmiri Azadi to the hard line youth in the state. 

It remains to be seen what will happen tomorrow on 26th Jan, India's 63rd Republic Day at Lal Chowk.

Sushma Swaraj and Other BJP leaders arrested in J&K

Sushma Swaraj ji has been reporting the progress of the Tiranga Yatra as it happens and moments ago reported that she along with others have been arrested by J&K police on orders of Omar Abdullah. God the tiranga yatra is turning ugly.