No compromise over national issues, says BJP

The BJP said on Friday that there would be no compromise on "certain basic principles" while dealing with issues of national importance like separatist leader Masrat Alam and others raising pro-Pakistan slogans and waiving its flag.

The NDA government at the Centre follows a "zero tolerance policy against terrorism and separatism", Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Jitendra Singh told reporters here.

The minister clarified that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would not be under any pressure "merely for existence in the governance or a coalition".

"Nobody can go away with this impression that merely for existence in the governance or in a coalition, the BJP would be ready to compromise on any of these principles," he said.

The minister, however, said the Jammu and Kashmir government has been taking action and the issue is being looked into.

Masrat Alam, who was placed under house arrest on Thursday night, is under police detention in Badgam district of the state where a police complaint was lodged against him over raising pro-Pakistan solgans and waiving its flag on April 15.

Another separatist leader, Syed Ali Geelani was also placed under house arrest.

Police lodged a first information report (FIR) against Masrat Alam on April 15 when he led a separatist rally for Geelani, who reached Srinagar that day after spending over three months in Delhi for medical treatment.

Youths displayed Pakistani flags and shouted pro-Azadi and pro-Pakistan slogans during the rally.

On March 7, the Jammu and Kashmir government released Masrat Alam from preventive detention after more than four years.

He was arrested during the 2010 unrest in the Kashmir Valley. He was accused of inciting youth during the unrest, leading to clashes between mobs and security forces in which at least 112 people were killed.

--Indo-Asian New Service

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