NDA govt could have stopped J-K separatist's release: Congress

New Delhi, Mar 11: Opposition on Wednesday sought to corner the government on the release of Kashmiri separatist Masarat Alam, saying the decision was taken when the state was under central rule and the NDA government could have stopped it.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Jyotiraditya Scindia (Cong) said a district commissioner had reportedly informed the state Home Secretary that Alam's detention has become 'non-est' (non existent) as per a court order and a fresh detention order has to be issued to keep him behind bars.

He said when the district authorities directed the concerned SP to release Alam and inform the Home department about it, the state was under Governor's Rule.

"Had the Centre wanted, it could have ensured issuance of fresh orders to keep him under detention," he said, adding that either the Centre was not aware of the issue or it was "hand-in-gloves" with the state administration on his release.

Scindia sought a clarification from the government whether Home Minister Rajnath Singh's statement on the issue had "misled" the House. "We are not interested in the Prime Minister's sermons on national interest. We want answers," he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said it is a serious issue and it should not be politicised.

"The statement by the Home Minister is correct. He had said he had sought clarification from the state Home Department. I spoke with him this morning after going through the news," he said.

Naidu said since the Home Minister was busy in Rajya Sabha, he would make a fresh statement soon on the clarifications sought from the state government.

"There will be no compromise on national security," he added. As the Opposition sought more details, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said members should desist from seeking clarifications based on news items every day.

Parties like Trinamool Congress and AIADMK associated with the issue raised by Scindia.

PTI