Shocked Congress asks PM to take decisive action on Alam release issue

The Congress on Monday expressed its shock over Prime Minister Narendra Modi not being informed about Hurriyat leader Masarat Alam's release by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and demanded that the latter take decisive action in the matter.

"We are shocked to learn that a person like Masarat Alam, who was responsible for 112 deaths in 2010, who is the propagator of stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir was released and the Prime Minister and the Government of India have no knowledge of it. It is time that Prime Minister woke up from his slumber and take decisive action," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told ANI.

"We request the Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to shed 'crocodile tears' but take a decisive policy line against those who are anti-India forces, and forces who are trying to disrupt peace in Jammu and Kashmir," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day said the Central Government was neither informed nor consulted about Alam's release.

"I assure the nation that there is no compromise on the unity of the nation," PMO's twitter handle quoted.

Seeking to pacify the opposition, Prime Minister Modi said, "This expression of anger over Alam's release does not belong to any political party, but to the entire nation and the entire House."

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had earlier said the Centre has sought clarifications from the Jammu and Kashmir government on Alam's release.

Alam was released from Baramulla prison following the new Jammu and Kashmir government's policy to free political prisoners who do not face criminal charges.

Alam is the chairman of Muslim League, a constituent of hard-line Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and is widely seen as the latter's successor.

He had been convicted for organizing anti-India protests resulting in the death of 112 people in stone pelting across the Valley in 2010.