Media should not indulge in "hysteria-mongering" over Pakistan flags at rallies, says Aiyer

Commenting on the controversy created when separatists raised Pakistan flags at a rally earlier in May in Kashmir's Anantnagar district, Congress veteran Mani Shankar Aiyer on Saturday said that instead of hysteria-mongering, the media and general public should recognise that such elements exist in our country and added that a process of dialogue with them could bring about a reasonable solution.

"The hysteria-mongering that goes around in our media and general public is most unfortunate. It is not relevant whether someone is raising a flag or whether someone is an Indian or not. It is more important to recognise that these elements exist and a process of dialogue with them should be started which could bring a reasonable solution," Aiyer told ANI here.

"It is an anti-national activity. But grow up! In Spain they have a Basque Separatist party. In France they have a separatist movement in Brittany. Every country in the world has segments of its population that feel alienated," he added.

"Tamil Nadu was in favour of separation from India from 1947 to 1962. Did Nehru arrest Annadurai? No. He reconciled him with the result that when war with China broke out, Annadurai publicly announced that they had given up their demand for separation," said Aiyer.

Separatist leader Shabir Shah's supporters on Friday waved Pakistan flags at a rally in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag District.

This is the latest in a series of such incidents across the Kashmir Valley and comes days after separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq's supporters raised Pakistan flags at a rally in Srinagar's old city area.

The rally was held on the eve of death anniversary of Farooq's father.

Earlier, separatist leader Masarat Alam had sparked a controversy when supporters raised pro- Pakistan slogans at a rally attended by him on April 17.