PM denounces release of Kashmiri separatist leader Masarat Alam

New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi today denounced the release of hardline separatist leader Masarat Alam by the Jammu and Kashmir government of which BJP is a partner saying he shared the outrage over the unacceptable decision and would take whatever action is requiredModi spoke in Lok Sabha as members from various political parties created an uproar over the development terming it as antinational and dangerous to the countrys integrity and dared BJP to pull out of the Mufti Mohammad Sayeedled governmentAsserting that the release of the separatist leader was not acceptable he said his government wont tolerate any compromise with the nations integrity He said the Centre has sought clarifications from the state government and will act after the response is receivedHome Minister Rajnath Singh said the Centre had already sought clarifications from the state but was not satisfied with part of the reply Further clarification has been sought he said I want to assure the House that we will not refrain from issuing strongest advisory to the state government if required Singh saidAs opposition protested Modi made an intervention saying he shares the outrage of the country as well as the House over the development Parliament in one voice has condemned this type of action I assure the country and the House that whatever ishappening there in J and K the Union government was neither consulted not informed Government does not accept such actionIn one voice we express our anger against those supporting separatists and misusing the law In the coming days we will take whatever action is required and we are committed to the nations integrity Modi said As opposition members took a dig at him as BJP is a part of the states coalition government headed by PDP leader Sayeed Modi said BJP had no reason to keep silent as we are the people who sacrificed Shyama Prasad MukherjeeTo questions raised by opposition members the Prime Minister said Dont teach us patriotism As the Home Minister has said we have sought more clarification from the state We will inform Parliament on the action taken Singh said the state government has informed the Centre that 27 criminal cases including attempt to murder and sedition are pending against Alam and he was detained under the Public Safety Act after he got bail in all the casesThe release of Alam leader of Muslim League has created strains between the coalition partners with BJP insisting that such an action was not a part of the Common Minimum Programme on the basis of which the government was formed Opposition parties including Congress TMC RJD walked out expressing their dissatisfaction with Modis replyCongress leader Mallikarjun Kharge attacked Modi over his assertion that the Centre was not told about the development and said BJP then should either pull out of the alliance government in J and K or put Alam should be put behind bars againKalyan Banerjee TMC accused BJP of having given tacit support to the release of the traitor and said it cannot escape the responsibility for the state governments action as it is a partner in it He said the opposition had thought the state governmentwould refrain from taking any such action after the Home Minister had denounced Sayeeds statement which gave credit to Pakistan militants and separatists for smooth polls in the stateP Venugopal AIADMK whose party has supported the treasury benches on many issues also deplored Alams release and said BJP should pull out of the government