The party will promote the concept of ‘one nation, one flag’ across India.
Alarmed by the demand of the Congress government in Karnataka for a separate state flag, the BJP has come out with a counter strategy. It will promote the concept of ‘one nation, one flag’, a long-term goal of the Sangh parivar.
Union minister and senior leader Ananth Kumar, who had opposed the demand for a separate flag by his home state Karnataka, and union minister Kiren Rijiju, will flag off a ‘Tiranga Yatra’ on Wednesday.
The concept of a separate flag, even for Jammu and Kashmir where BJP is in the ruling coalition, has not gone down well with the BJP as it feels such an idea could eventually lead to demands for separate states, which in turn, will harm the integrity and sovereignty of the country.
As part of the strategy, BJP is launching a country-wide awareness campaign to create and promote nationalism through the use of the tricolour. Senior party leaders will be roped in these ‘Tiranga Yatras’.
As part of the programme, 40 ex-servicemen and war widows will hand over the tricolour to state presidents of the BJYM, the youth wing of the BJP. These young leaders will then take the flags to their respective states and organise the marches at district/zonal levels.
Sources in the party said that senior leaders have been asked to provide all support to these events, being held to mark the 75th anniversary of Quit India movement and 70th anniversary of Independence.
Senior BJP leaders maintain that the strategy is to give another boost to the concept of nationalism through Tiranga Yatras.
“When our youths march with the Tiranga, the masses get influenced and a feeling of patriotism is stirred. The Prime Minister wants terrorism and communalism to quit India and this is a step in that direction. The aim is to strike a chord with the masses. People tend to forget everything when the country’s pride is at stake,” said a senior leader.
“Soon, the Tiranga marches could be seen in every part of the country,” said an office-bearer of the party.