Parties criticise Mufti for releasing Masrat Bhat, Mehbooba defends CM

Jammu/ New Delhi, March 8: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Saturday released Masrat Alam Bhat, the president of Muslim League and a leading separatist.

The release of the alleged mastermind of street violence across the Valley made the BJP apprehensive about its ruling alliance with the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. PDP's Mufti Mohammad Sayeed took oath as the chief minister of the state after the two parties burnt a lot of midnight oil to forge a ruling alliance.

Alam's release came after Sayeed instructed to release "political prisoners" who faced no criminal charges. However, whether Alam belonged to such a category has created a controversy for he was accused of masterminding the violence that took place across the Kashmir Valley for four months leaving over 100 dead and several injured.

The J&K CM's daughter and political leader Mehbooba Mufti defended the decision saying as the CM and home minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had every right to decide whom to detain and whom to release.
The National Conference and BJP criticised the move while the Congress sought an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

Oneindia News