Differences crop up between BJP & PDP over Masrat Alam’s release
Miffed over the release of Hurriyat hardliner Masrat Alam from Baramulla jail two days ago, BJP on Monday lodged a formal protest with Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed asking him to run the government in accordance with the common minimum programme finalised between two coalition partners and any attempt to deviate from it will not be “allowed”.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh asserted in Rajya Sabha that no one, howsoever powerful, will be allowed to play with the unity and integrity of the country as he sought to allay concerns of members over Alam’s release. Singh, who made a statement and replied to clarifications, insisted that there was “no hidden agenda” in and the Centre has sought answers from the state government, in which BJP is a part, over the decision to release Alam.
PM Modi conveys disapproval over separatist’s release
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed his strong disapproval and sense of outrage of the entire Lok Sabha over the release of Kashmiri separatist leader Masrat Alam on the directions of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed.
The release of Hurriyat hardliner has left many red faced within the BJP and also the RSS. The matter is likely to come up for discussion at the RSS pratindhi Sabha in Nagpur, which is scheduled to start on Wednesday. In BJP’s opinion, Masarat was a terrorist who had gone to Pakistan for arms training in early 1990s and he had shot into limelight after he issued calanders for stonepelters resulting in the death of 112 people in 2010.
The PDP, on the other hand, says that the matter was being unnecessarily blown out of proportion. He was already bailed out in various cases by respective courts and his detention under PSA revoked by state high court from time to time, a senior PDP leader said.