In a first, tricolour unfurled atop Clock Tower at historic Lal Chowk in Srinagar 

In a first, a tricolour was unfurled at the iconic clock tower in Srinagar’s Lal Chowk on Wednesday. The flag was unfurled by two activists Sajid Yusuf Shah and Sahil Bashir Bhatt on the occasion of Republic Day 2022.  This is arguably after several decades in post-Independence India that the tricolour was unfurled atop Ghanta Ghar in Srinagar.

Previously, the historic location has witnessed hoisting of Pakistani flag or even imposition of Section 144 on January 26. The administration had denied permission to unfurl the Tiranga at Lal Chowk in Srinagar even after the abrogation of Article 370 citing the sensitivity of the area. The two activists had sought permission from the local administration.

Earlier, stooges of Pakistan used to unfurl the Pakistani flag: Activists

“All credit goes to people who abrogated Article 370. That gave us the chance to hoist the flag at the Lal Chowk. For the first time in history, we are feeling that we are in India,” Sajid Yusuf Shah, one of the activists who unfurled the tricolour at Lal Chowk in Srinagar today.

Sahil Bashir Bhatt, another activist, who accompanied Shah said – “The emotions are very high when you are trying to change the history. Earlier, stooges of Pakistan used to come here and display the Pakistani flag atop the clock tower at Lal Chowk. And it used to not come down for 15 days. Today, we are two, tomorrow, there will be 20, 200.”

The sensitive Lal Chowk in Srinagar is a historic location given that it was here in 1948 when then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had unfurled the national flag.

In August 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370 and revoked the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.