Masarat Alam release row: Will not allow soft policy on such issues, says BJP

New Delhi, Mar 10: Amidst the row with its ruling coalition partner PDP in Jammu and Kashmir over the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam, BJP today said it had a "zero -tolerance policy towards terrorism and separatism" and did not agree with the move.

Asked about the issue which has rocked the PDP-BJP alliance within days of its government taking charge in J-K, Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that not only did it not agree with the way that Masarat, a Hurriyat hardliner, was released, but it was also against the decision. "BJP adopts a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and separatism and will not bow down by allowing soft or weak policy on these issues," he said.

"The manner in which a separatist leader has been released, BJP does not agree with it. We are against it. It is wrong," he said, adding that Home Minister Rajnath Singh had yesterday made it clear in both Houses of Parliament. "Home Minister is keeping a close watch on the issue and whatever will happen will be as per the Constitution and as per the law," he said.

A delegation of J-K BJP leaders will meet party president Amit Shah today and apprise him of the meeting they had yesterday with J-K Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed. According to sources, a delegation of J-K BJP leaders met Sayeed and handed a memorandum to him on the issue of Alam's release while conveying the party leadership's "annoyance" to him over the matter.

The party leaders conveyed to Sayeed that the decision to release Alam was not discussed with BJP and done unilaterally, which was against the agenda of the Common Minimum Programme agreed between the allies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had yesterday in Lok Sabha denounced the release of Alam by the J-K government, in which BJP is a partner, saying he shared the "outrage" over the unacceptable decision and would take whatever action was required.

"I assure the country and the House that whatever is happening there (in J-K), the Union government was neither consulted not informed... Government does not accept such action. "In one voice, we express our anger against those supporting separatists and misusing the law. In the coming days, we will take whatever action is required and we are committed to the nation's integrity," Modi had said.

PTI