Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticised J&K chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and expressed his outrage over the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam as an “unacceptable act” and said that the Central government would take appropriate measures to ensure that the country's unity and integrity are not hurt.
“This government will not tolerate no such act which can compromise the country's unity and integrity. We will take action as laid down under the Constitution,” Modi told protesting opposition members in Lok Sabha after they sought to corner the government over the release of Alam, who has been accused of orchestrating largescale street violence across the Valley which left 112 protesters dead in 2010.
Opposition parties were joined by BJP ally AIADMK to condemn the move as “anti-national” and dangerous to the country's integrity. Opponents also sought to rub in that BJP was part of the J&K coalition, and dared it to pull out of the Mufti-led government or arrest Alam, forcing adjournments in the House.
Modi also distanced his government from the controversial decisions of the J&K government, asserting that Mufti had acted without consulting or informing the Centre. Modi's intervention, which came after home minister Rajnath Singh termed the J&K government's explanation for Alam's release as unsatisfactory, underlined BJP's embarrassment and the strain in its coalition with PDP and was read as a message to Mufti that it will not put up with more such controversial decisions. Modi appealed for non-partisanship but was combative in responding to the taunts from opponents about BJP being a coalition partner of PDP, and the charge that the actions of its coalition partner has forced him into silence.
The tough stance was also articulated by Rajnath Singh who said the Centre had sought clarifications from the J&K government over Alam's release and would not hesitate to issue an advisory if it came to that. “I want to assure the House that we will not refrain from issuing strongest advisory to the state government if required,” Singh said.
Significantly, even as he quoted from the J&K government's statement defending Alam's release on the ground that he had been granted bail and that the high court had quashed his preventive detention under Public Safety Act, Singh emphasized that the secessionist faced 27 criminal cases including one of sedition.
Centre not consulted: Modi
Modi said the Centre was not consulted by the J&K government on the decision to release Alam. "Whatever action is being taken in J&K is being taken without consulting coalition partner or with central government," he said. The Prime Minister conceded the Centre had to take some blame since it was in coalition in Jammu & Kashmir. But he assured the House that no step which undermined unity of the country would be tolerated. "We have asked for a clarification on the Alam issue, when it comes we will inform you," the Prime Minister said.
BJP lodges protest with Mufti
BJP legislators in Jammu and Kashmir lodged a strong protest with Mufti over the release of Alam and demanded his re-arrest. The party also took exception to the "misinformation campaign" that the decision to release Alam was taken after consulting it. The MLAs led by state BJP general secretary Rajiv Jasrotia met Sayeed at his residence and submitted a memorandum.
"We have lodged a strong protest with the Chief Minister and expressed our deep concern over the unilateral decision (of release of the Masarat Alam)," Jasrotia told reporters later. He said that Mufti assured them that their concerns would be addressed.
The BJP also asked Mufti to consider re-arrest of Alam in view of the statements made by him soon after his release. "BJP strongly opposes and rejects the decision to release Alam and believes that the conduct of Alam, after his release and the statements made by him and situation existing now, are fresh inputs to consider his fresh detention under PSA immediately in the interest of the security of the state," Jasrotia said.
"Alam remaining at large any more will be detrimental to the security of the state and worsen the security scenario," he claimed.The BJP also sought immediate probe into all pending FIRs against Alam, the challans of which have not been presented, he said.
BJP youth wing holds protest
Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP's youth wing held a protest in Jammu against the release of Alam. "The protest was led by the state general secretary of the BJP youth wing and I was also part of it," senior BJP leader Yudhvir Sethi said. Terming Alam as anti-national who would further fuel militancy in Jammu and Kashmir, the protesters demanded his immediate arrest.
"We will never tolerate the release of an anti-national leader who is a threat to the national security," a protester said. He said the youth wing of the party would increase its agitation in the days to come if Mufti does not order the re-arrest of Alam.
J&K govt decides not to release any more political prisoners
The Jammu and Kashmir government announced that there would be no further release of militants or political prisoners. “There is no such thing,” State Home Secretary Suresh Kumar said in reply to a question whether the Mufti government will continue with the release of militants and political prisoners.
In an interview, Muft said, “This guy was under preventive detention since beginning of 2010. How long can he be continued under PSA? You have to abide by the rule of the country,” he said. “Now media is making an issue out of it. Whom to explain what,” he said.
Referring to the release of Pakistani nationals, he said “It is a routine process. Those Pakistan nationals completed jail term and were repatriated back to Pakistan. There is no connection with this issue to the release of the militants.”
“We have released 3 to 4 Pakistanis some time back for their repatriation after completion of their jail term. The deportation papers of some Bangladeshi national have arrived and they will be released in April,” he said.
He said that every year Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, who complete imprisonment are repatriated back to Pakistan via Wagah border and other places and that is a routine thing.
BJP said it had no objections if PDP wanted to release other such leaders, but called for a proper system to be adopted to review their cases, even as it threatened to pull out of the ruling alliance in Jammu and Kashmir if the regional party went ahead with its “hidden agenda.” “It (state government) should adopt a system (on the release of separatist leaders)... Our understanding is that this (Alam’s release) had to happen and we do not deny it. But there is a system (for it),” Ashok Koul, BJP state general secretary, said.
