JAMMU/NEW DELHI:
The Jammu and Kashmir Government will not free any more political prisoners or militants, it stated today after release of hardline separatist Masarat Alam created huge strains in the PDP-BJP coalition and uproar in Parliament.
“There is no such thing”, the State Home Secretary Suresh Kumar said on being asked whether Government will continue with the release of more militants and political prisoners.
“No Public Safety Act could be re-framed against Masarat Alam, that is why he was released. Rest there is nothing more (releases)”, Kumar told PTI in Jammu.
Defending the decision to release Alam, the Home Secretary said, “There is limit of detaining some one under PSA. You can have maximum six months and one time more”.
“As per the Supreme Court Judgement you cannot detain anyone again and again on the same charge. If you have done that there should be fresh charges against him”, he said.
Amidst the raging controversy, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today met BJP chief Amit Shah in Delhi and apprised him of the situation in the State in the wake of the controversy over Alam’s release.
According to sources, Singh met Shah at his residence and informed him of the State BJP’s stand on the controversial issue and the memorandum it handed over to Sayeed.
Pushed on the backfoot over Alam’s release, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today asserted that his Government’s top priority is national security and not the continuance of Government in the State where BJP is an alliance partner with PDP. (AGENCIES)
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