Jammu and Kashmir presented a contrasting mood at a time when the whole country pompously celebrated India’s 61st Republic Day on Tuesday. For the first time in 20 years, Srinagar’s historic Lal Chowk did not hoist the tri-colour, obviously giving into security concerns.

For years, terrorist attacks on Indian flag-hoisting ceremonies at the Clock Tower remained a major challenge and bane for the security forces. Successive governments shrugged off attempts and threats from terrorists to carry on with the sovereign tradition.

The incumbent J&K government of Omar Obdullah was however rattled by a recent militant strike at this very venue killing a few security guards. The government also developed a cold feet following intelligence warning about a fresh strike on R-Day. Thus, the decision was received with enough disappointment since the Lal Chowk spectacle is regarded very special and draws crowds from far and away every year.

The moot question here, is the government’s decision right, and is it going to provoke the terrorists to mount more such pressure tactics? Despite its significance, the Lal Chowk event used to be the single biggest concern for the security forces every year. About 10 years ago, the then BJP president Murli Manohar Joshi had to brave a heavy militant rocket fire to stay put and take the guard of honour here.

Omar Abdullah’s move has diffidence written all over it. The faceless retreat might as well see him being projected as a weak CM in the future. But it just appears, the young CM has decided to put people’s lives above all, even the egos of the establishment.