New Delhi:
On Monday, BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj were forcibly escorted out of Jammu and sent to Madhopur in Punjab. Strongly condemning the arrest, Jaitley had called the action "illegal, unconstitutional and undemocratic."
But Home Ministry sources tell NDTV that the state is well within its rights to take the leaders out of the state apprehending trouble. They added that police has the powers to do so as the state was told to prevent any large gathering, and that is why strict measures were taken and the BJP leaders were not allowed in.
Defending Omar Abdullah government, Home Minister P Chidambaram said in a statement: "The BJP leaders were also offered an opportunity to address a press conference at Jammu airport and, thereafter, leave Jammu & Kashmir.
Regrettably, they turned down the offer. In the circumstances, the state government had to remove the BJP leaders and take them to Madhopur in Punjab. They were lodged for the night at the rest house in Madhopur."
Here's the full statement by Chidambaram: