ISIS flags waived in J-K: Uday Bhaskar calls for firm response from Govt.

Expressing concern over the waving of Pakistani and ISIS flags in Srinagar, Commodore (Retired) C. Uday Bhaskar on Saturday said the Jammu and Kashmir Government will have to tackle this in a firm manner.

"What is happening in the valley, in Srinagar, I think has to be seen both in the domestic context and link it with the larger pattern. Whenever there has been any movement as far as India-Pakistan is concerned, those constituencies in Pakistan whether it is the separatists or the anti-India elements have raised their voice," Commodore (Retired) Bhaskar told ANI.

"Now particularly coming closer to Eid, I think there has been a certain ferment in the valley and yes these reports have come about the flags being burnt, the Indian flag being burnt and IS flag being waved. But my own sense is that the Jammu and Kashmir Government and local police would have to deal with this yes in a firm manner," he added.

Commodore (Retired) Bhaskar further said the political dynamic of the BJP-PDP coalition in Jammu and Kashmir should be allowed a certain amount of space to deal with this issue.

"But also I think in proportionate manner meaning that some other reports seem to suggest that a few boys, who waved the flag of the IS, were roughly 14- 15 years old and that they may have been doing it both as a sign of bravado and perhaps immaturity and, therefore, the response of the local machinery has to be proportionate and as I said some voices in our country are very agitated saying that there should be dealt with in a firm way," Commodore (Retired) Bhaskar said.

"But I think the history of Jammu and Kashmir and the way in which political dynamic is now working after all we have a local government that is a coalition of a BJP and PDP no one expected that you have a government of this type. So, I think the political dynamic also has to be allowed a certain amount of space to deal with this issue," he added.

Pakistani and ISIS flags were waved in Srinagar for the second consecutive day today during the protest over the house arrest of Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani.