Masarat Alam freed, Engineer Rashid demands release of all political prisoners

Masarat Alam at his residence in Srinagar on Monday. (Source: Reuters)

Days after the state government released senior separatist leader Masarat Alam, causing uproar across the country, independent legislator Engineer Rashid has moved two resolutions demanding the release of all the political prisoners and the return of mortal remains of Afzal Guru who was hanged in Tihar Jail.

Addressing the media in Srinagar, Rashid said that he has moved two resolutions for the budget session of the state assembly that begins next week.

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Explaining the contents of these resolutions he said that, “All the political prisoners languishing in different jails in and outside Jammu & Kashmir be released unconditionally, to create conducive atmosphere to return of peace in the State.”

In another resolution, Rashid has sought the mortal remains of Afzal Guru to his family on humanitarian grounds “so that they can perform his last rights according to the religious obligations.”

He said that since the return of mortal remains of Afzal Guru is the “voice of Kashmir’s”, he would write letters to the speaker of the State assembly, PDP and NC to ensure that these resolutions are adopted.

“I will write a letter to the speaker of the assembly that these two resolutions are important.If you really want to start an era of reconciliation and confidence building in Kashmir, then we should adopt these resolutions. There is a provision in the law that speaker can take up a resolution if it is of some significance,” he said. “Seeing the significance of the resolution, I will also write a letter to the PDP and NC that you should help in ensuring that these resolutions don’t require to be taken up by the draw of lots.”

Commenting on the uproar over the release of Alam, Rashid said that Alam was a “political prisoner. “He was a political prisoner, and if you assume that Masrat Alam was a terrorist and 120 men were killed because of the agitation, which Masrat Alam was heading, then you are confessing that he was the leader of the masses and not any terrorist. Because people never come on roads on the call of any terrorist,” he said.

He also said that if the government cannot return the body of the Afzal Guru, on the basis of which law and morality, the memorial of the Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale has been kept inside the golden temple.

“BJP is in coalition with the Akalis in Punjab and nation wants to know…Will the government remove the memorial of the Santh Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, who was the architect of all the militant activities? he asked.

Source:: Indian Express