The Bharatiya Janata Party, a coalition partner in Mufti Mohammad Sayeed-led government in Jammu and Kashmir, on Sunday criticised the controversial decision to release hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam and said its ministers and legislators will meet to discuss the party stand over the "unilateral" step.
State BJP chief and MP Jugal Kishore Sharma said his party was not even consulted before the decision was taken. "This step does not have the consent of the BJP. Nor was the BJP consulted before taking such a decision," he told reporters in Jammu amid widespread criticism of the decision to release the separatist leader who was responsible for fanning trouble in 2010 in which over 100 people died in Kashmir.
"We were not asked before releasing Masarat Alam. If they had asked us, we would not have given approval from our side on this and even today our consent is not with this decision," he added.
Criticising the decision, Sharma said, "Such people should not have been released as they only spit anti-India venom... If you leave such people like this without any conditions, they will always resort to such (separatist) slogans".
Underlining that this issue does not figure in the Common Minimum Programme on the basis of which the coalition government is running, he said the ministers and legislators of the BJP will discuss the matter and make its stand clear.
"All issues would be discussed in the meeting of the BJP today (Sunday). We will clear our stand to the PDP. The BJP is not dependent on any party. The BJP is in power on its own strength," he said, adding his party had joined hands with the PDP for development of Jammu and Kashmir and for the betterment of people of the state.
To a question, Sharma said, "The BJP has conveyed its stand (against the decision) and reacted to this. Our reaction will reach them (PDP)."
He added, "If the BJP is not successful (on running the government with PDP), it will come to you and will announce about its decision.”
Asked whether the BJP will opt out of the government, he said, "The situation has not come. We will sit with our partner and take a decision (with regard to such issue) so that in future such steps are not taken."
Sharma underlined the need for working together for good governance for ensuring development in J&K. "We have to work together for the betterment of the people of J&K... The government formation has been there only for five to six days. We will sit together and hold talks with them (PDP)," he added.
On the issue of Mehbooba Mufti's statement that she is not bothered about the coalition, Sharma said, "The BJP have formed alliance on development agenda. The coalition has been formed on the agenda of betterment of people of J&K. We will continue to move forward on that. That is why we will hold meeting on this and will come back to you with our reaction."
The PDP downplayed the criticism by its coalition partner. "This (the release of Alam) has to be seen in proper perspective. It is an important part of our Common Minimum Programme to involve all stakeholders in the state, and across the Line of Control, for reconciliation and peace in the state," PDP chief spokesman and Education Minister Naeem Akhtar told PTI.
"If you want to have a dialogue with all stakeholders, which includes these leaders, you cannot engage them by keeping them in jail without anything substantial against them," he added.
Akhtar said the courts had intervened on the detention of some of the leaders and set them free.
Asked about the opposition by the BJP to Alam's release, Akhtar said he does not want to get into a public debate on it. "They have their own views but I don't want to enter into a public debate on this issue. This is part of our CMP," he added.
Image: Hurriyat hardliner Masarat Alam
