Masrat released without consent of central government: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that Jammu and Kashmir separatist leader Masrat Alam was released without taking the central government into confidence.

Making an intervention in the Lok Sabha, Modi said it was legitimate for the house to show its anger on the issue.

"I assure the nation and the house that after the Jammu and Kashmir government was formed, proceedings are taking place without taking the Indian government into confidence," the prime minister said.

"I associate with the concern and anger in the house," he added.

He asked leaders in the Lok Sabha not to make a political issue of the matter, and said: "At least on the issue of separatists and terrorism, the country should not think on party lines".

"The BJP is in a coalition with the PDP government in Jammu and Kashmir. You should criticize the government, but the world should not get a message that the country is divided on the issue of its unity and integrity".

"I want to assure that the government will not accept any such incident. We will not compromise on the country's unity and integrity," he added.

Alam, who was arrested during the 2010 unrest in the Kashmir Valley for allegedly inciting youth, was released by the newly-installed PDP-BJP coalition government on Saturday.