NEW DELHI : The Centre is not satisfied with the clarifications provided by the Jammu and Kashmir government on the release of Hurriyat hardliner Masarat Alam, Home Minister Rajnath Singh informed the Rajya Sabha today as the agitated Opposition demanded that either the separatist leader be put behind bars or the BJP walk out of the ‘unholy alliance’ with the PDP.
In a statement on the release of Alam, which led to noisy scenes in the morning, the Home Minister said, “We have made queries from the Jammu and Kashmir Government on the Masarat Alam issue. The Centre is not satisfied with state’s response.”
He said the Centre has sought clarification for the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed government, adding that he would not hesitate to issue a strong advisory to the state government, if required. Masarat Alam was facing 27 criminal cases, including that of charges of waging war against nation, sedition and attempt to murder, the Home Minister said. But the state government has informed that the Hurriyat leader was granted bail in all these cases and when he was released from jail, he was not facing any case, he said, expressing dissatisfaction over the response of the state government.
“We are ready to sacrifice anything for the sake of national unity,” the Home Minister said, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi sitting besides him. The BJP had no hidden agenda when it decided to form the government in the state, he added. He said despite ideological differences, the BJP decided to form a coalition government with the PDP, as the people of state overwhelmingly voted in hope of an elected government. “We decided to form the government with them since you could not reconcile your differences with your erstwhile partner to give a government to the state,” Mr Singh said, pointing towards Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, who reacted sharply, saying it was the Congress that brought Jammu and Kashmir back from the brink when it was at the height of militancy in early nineties.
(AGENCIES)
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