BJP lodges formal protest with Mufti over Masarat’s release

BJP asks Mufti to run the J&K government in accordance with the common minimum programme. (Source: Express photo)

Miffed over the release of Hurriyat hardliner Masarat Alam from Baramulla jail two days ago, BJP on Monday lodged a formal protest with Chief Minister Mufti Sayeed asking him to run the government in accordance with the common minimum programme finalised between two coalition partners and any attempt to deviate from it will not be “allowed”.

“We told him that we wanted the government to function as per provisions in the CMP and redress the difficulties being faced by people across the state,” said BJP MLA Rajiv Jasortia, adding that “any deviation by it from the CMP will not be allowed.” Jasrotia headed a delegation of party legislators who submitted a memorandum to the chief minister lodging party’s formal protest over the release of Masarat Alam.

“We have told him that attempts are being made from PDP side either through their statements or the actions to deviate government functioning from CMP from the very first day of its formation,” Jasrotia said in apparent reference to Mufti’s praising Pakistan and Hurriyat for smooth assembly polls, which was followed by some PDP legislators demanding return of mortal remains of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.

The BJP legislators also asked him to convene a meeting of steering committee comprising of members from both parties to discuss all contentious issues between them. They demanded the government to present challan in courts in all cases registered against Masarat Alam.

They also denied that the party was consulted over the release of Hurriyat hardliner by the PDP. “We have told him in view of denial by even the Home Minister and the Prime Minister, it was for the PDP to name the person whom they had consulted before Masarat’s release,” Jasrotia said.

The release of Hurriyat hardliner has left many red faced within the BJP and also the RSS. The matter is likely to come up for discussion at the RSS pratindhi Sabha in Nagpur, which is scheduled to start on Wednesday. In BJP’s opinion, Masarat was a terrorist who had gone to Pakistan for arms training in early 1990s and he had shot into limelight after he issued calanders for stonepelters resulting in the death of 112 people in 2010.

The PDP, on the other hand, says that the matter was being unnecessarily blown out of proportion. He was already bailed out in various cases by respective courts and his detention under PSA revoked by state high court from time to time, a senior PDP leader said.

The PDP chief spokesperson and Education Minister Nayeem Akhtar said that Masarat’s release was an issue within the ambit of Home Department and there was no need to first bring it before the steering committee. Tomorrow, if I as an education minister orders some transfer, will I have to first discuss it in the steering committee? he asked.

Source:: Indian Express