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The release of separatist leader Masarat Alam in Jammu and Kashmir by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led to noisy scenes in both Houses of Parliament on Monday, putting the government on the defensive.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who made a statement in both Houses, conceded neither the Centre nor the coalition partner, BJP, was consulted on the issue.
With questions being raised over compromising the “security of the nation”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened to warn the Opposition not to give them homilies on patriotism and denounced the release of Alam. An angry Opposition challenged the government to pull out of the J&K government. Due to the ruckus, the crucial mining Bill could not be taken up in the Rajya Sabha.
The home minister said the Centre had sought a report from the state and had been informed that there were 27 criminal charges, including murder, sedition and conspiracy, pending against Alam and that he had been detained eight times. However, he had been granted bail by courts.
“We are not satisfied with J&K home department’s reply on Masarat Alam's release and have sought further clarifications. We will issue the strongest advisory, if need be,” said Singh. The home minister admitted to “ideological differences” with the PDP and asserted that “nobody, howsoever powerful”, will be allowed to play with national integrity.
Modi said his government was not satisfied with the response of the state government. He assured members that the security of the nation was of paramount importance, adding, “The BJP had no reason to keep silent as we are the people who sacrificed Syama Prasad Mookerjee.”
In the Rajya Sabha, where the government does not enjoy a majority, the issue echoed throughout the day with the House being adjourned several times. Dissatisfied with the response of the government, and “the insult to the Upper House with PM Modi not speaking” in the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition raised noisy slogans, They did not even allow the tabling of two Bills to replace ordinances, the mining Bill and the motor vehicles Bill (both of which had been passed by the Lok Sabha) to be taken up here.
The release of Alam, the Muslim League leader, has created fissures in the coalition. The BJP insists that such an action was not a part of the common minimum programme (CMP) on the basis of which the coalition government was formed.
The Leader of Opposition in the Upper House, Ghulam Nabi Azad, attacked the government, labeling Alam the “mastermind” of stone-pelting incidents in the Valley, which led to 112 youngsters being killed. JD(U)’s Sharad Yadav demanded to know from the prime minister what the “hidden agenda” was behind the CMP.
Congress’ Mallikarjun Kharge, in the Lok Sabha, attacked the PM for stating that the coalition partner was in the dark about the decision to release Alam. “You should pull out of the government,” he challenged the treasury benches. The Congress found support across the Opposition, with the Trinamool Congress, Janata Dal (United), Bahujan Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party rallying around on this issue.
