Senior BJP leader and the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley on Thursday said those who term speeches of anti-nationalists as freedom of expression are objecting to political parties hoisting the tricolour in certain parts of the country. The BJP youth wing will be hoisting flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on January 26 despite Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah urging the party not to, fearing it will create problem in the state.
Criticising the “perversion of political thought,” Mr Jaitley said, “A few days ago certain forces bent on disintegrating the nation were opining that Kashmir is not a part of India. Some even said the nation cannot be united at all as it is an unnatural combination.”
He said when these people were speaking and objections were raised about their views, it was argued by some that they should have a right to express their views.
“Those who were for their views are questioning our objective to hoist the national flag in parts of the country. This is perversion of political thought that those expressing views against the nation are considered free speakers, whereas some want to hoist the flag in any part of the country but it is looked upon as injustice,” the BJP leader said at a party function on “Personal Law Reforms and Women”.
He said “perversion of political thought was the reason behind women not getting equal rights or being kept in the dark about them.” “It is this same line of thought that comes in the way of implementing personal law reforms for women,” Mr Jaitley said.