Mega BJP rally on Christmas Eve in Jammu

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is mobilizing party workers in Jammu for a mega rally on Christmas Eve.

The 'haha rally' at Parade Ground will see the participation of top BJP leadership, including LK Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.

But local churches are apprehensive that the rally being organised on December 24 might be a major interference to the celebrations for Christmas.

"They should avoid such a rally on a special event like Christmas," says Rev. Shohanlal, rector of St Paul's Church in Jammu.

"If they are committed to maintain communal harmony, they would have organised it before Christmas Eve or after December 25, but not when Christians celebrate the birth of Christ," the CNI priest adds.

Rev. Sohanlal informed that the church has planned carols, prayer and midnight services on December 24 and 25.

"Let us pray for peace and hope Christians can joyfully celebrate Christmas this year," commented Rev. Khanna, another priest from the Jammu region.

According to sources, police have already started making high level security arrangements and restrictions have been laid on the movement of common people.

The two-day rally is reportedly to be attended by about 50,000 party workers.

State party unit incharge Om Prakash Kohli told reporters that the mega rally is to protest the remarks of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah over the issue of accession of JK to India and the policy to rehabilitate militants from PoK.