BJP seeks president’s intervention on flag-hoisting issue

With its senior leaders denied entry into Kashmir Valley for the flag hoisting programme in Srinagar on the Republic day, BJP has sought President Pratibha Patil's intervention in the matter.

"We have urged the president to intervene in the matter as two of our senior leaders are being stopped at Jammu," senior leader Rajnath Singh said after his phone call to the President.

"I requested her (Patil) to tell the Centre to permit the youth wing to hoist the tricolour," he added.

BJP moved the president after its senior leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj were stopped at the Jammu airport.

They were sent by the BJP high command earlier in the day to "take command" of the BJP youth wing's flag hoisting yatra at Lal Chowk in Srinagar.